Conceptualization, Contexts, and Measurement of Nursing Theoretical Literacy: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Nursing theory and conceptual models are central to nursing as a knowledge discipline, yet theory is often perceived as abstract and difficult to operationalize in education and practice. This theory-practice tension suggests variability in nurses' and nursing students' capability to access, interpret, critique, and apply theoretical knowledge in ways that shape praxis. Nursing theoretical literacy (NTL) is an emerging, practice-oriented literacy construct that may help specify this capability; however, its conceptual boundaries, contextual uses, and measurement approaches remain unclear.

This scoping review aims to map how NTL and closely related constructs are conceptualized and defined in the nursing literature, characterize the contexts and populations in which they are discussed, applied, or studied, and assess the extent to which they have been operationalized and assessed.

This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and be reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). Using the population, concept, and context framework, we will include English- and Chinese-language sources across nursing education, clinical practice, leadership and management, and nursing research. We will search MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ERIC, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, and the Chinese Biomedical Database, complemented by gray literature searches of the Open Science Framework, dissertations and theses, institutional and professional association websites, and citation chasing. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts, with disagreements resolved through consensus or by a third reviewer. Data will be charted using a piloted extraction form and synthesized through descriptive mapping, conceptual mapping of definitional elements and construct relationships, and a measurement inventory summarizing assessment approaches and reported measurement properties.

As of February 13, 2026, the PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure search strategies have been pilot-tested and refined, confirming the feasibility of the concept mapping approach. Searches are planned for May to June 2026, screening is planned for June to July 2026, data charting is planned for July to August 2026, and synthesis and manuscript preparation are planned for August to September 2026. Results are expected to be submitted for publication in late 2026.

This scoping review will provide an evidence map of how NTL is conceptualized, where it appears across nursing contexts, and how it is operationalized and assessed. Findings will describe how conceptual boundaries have been represented in the literature, identify gaps and priorities, and support downstream work, including hybrid concept analysis and the development or adaptation of NTL assessment tools.