Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Barriers to Women's Leadership in Nursing: A Rapid Evidence Assessment and Proposal for an Integrated Theoretical
Chiara Palazzo1, Vincenza Giordano2, Andrea Chirico3
1Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
Aim(S):
This review analyses and synthesises the available evidence on the barriers limiting women's career advancement in nursing. It aims to identify effective interventions to promote gender equity in healthcare leadership through an integrated framework informed by Social Role Theory, Ambivalent Sexism Theory and Theory of Planned Behaviour.
Design:
Rapid Evidence Assessment.
Data Sources:
The search was conducted on the databases: PubMed, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, ApaPsycArticles, ApaPsycInfo between March and May 2025.
Methods:
The Population-Exposure-Outcome framework guided the formulation of the research question. Two reviewers independently conducted screening, quality appraisal and data extraction.
Results:
Eight studies with heterogeneous research designs were included: four literature reviews, three quantitative studies and one qualitative study. The analysis identified four themes: (1) gender pay gap; (2) gender stereotypes and cultural expectations; (3) systemic barriers: organisational structures and institutional culture; (4) organisational strategies for gender equity and female leadership.
Conclusion:
Career advancement for female nurses is limited by systemic and internalised constraints that reinforce vertical segregation. Multilevel interventions are needed to dismantle structural inequalities and reshape gender norms within nursing leadership.
Implications For The Profession And/Or Patient Care:
Targeted reforms, including transparent promotion criteria, structured mentoring, bias awareness training and inclusive organisational policies, are essential to promote leadership equity, improve workplace justice and foster a sustainable health system.
Impact:
This study addresses the persistent gender gap in nursing leadership, identifying systemic, cultural and individual barriers to women's career progression. Through a Rapid Evidence Assessment, it proposes a new multilevel theoretical framework. The results support policies and interventions to promote gender equity in nursing leadership.
Reporting Methods:
This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for reporting.
Patient Or Public Contribution:
None.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:30Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
Theories provide a perspective to assess patients' conditions and organize data and methods. They also assist in analyzing and interpreting information. They represent a...
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:30National Nursing Organizations II
The AACN emphasizes a healthy work environment through six standards to achieve an optimal patient outcome. The standards are appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, collaboration, authentic leadership, effective communication, and decision-making. In addition, AACN provides certification programs, webinars, journals, and...
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...