Scope of practice of primary care nurses: a protocol for an umbrella review of international literature.
| Title: | Scope of practice of primary care nurses: a protocol for an umbrella review of international literature. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lukewich J; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada jlukewich@mun.ca.; Mathews M; Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.; Myles S; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.; Dufour É; Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.; Asghari S; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Rioux-Dubois A; Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.; Martin-Misener R; Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.; Halcomb EJ; University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.; Chiu P; University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.; Poitras ME; Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.; Leslie K; Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada.; McGraw M; Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.; Ryan D; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Curnew D; Centre for Nursing Studies, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Meredith L; Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.; Morin A; Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.; Swab M; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Braithwaite S; Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.; Macdonald D; Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.; Hedden L; Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.; Aubrey-Bassler K; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.; Calver J; Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.; Bruneau J; Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. |
| Source: | BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2025 Jul 25; Vol. 15 (7), pp. e103319. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jul 25. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101552874 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-6055 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20446055 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Open Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2011- |
| MeSH Terms: | Primary Health Care* ; Scope of Practice* ; Primary Care Nursing* ; Nurse's Role*; Humans ; Systematic Reviews as Topic ; Research Design |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Primary care nurses (PCNs) are the second largest workforce in primary care and play a critical role in facilitating access to coordinated care and reducing health disparities. There is renewed interest in team-based primary care as a solution for health workforce challenges. Some team models enable PCNs (ie, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed/registered practical nurses) to leverage one another's expertise to work to optimal scope; the extent to which this happens depends on multiple context-dependent factors. We will conduct an umbrella review to synthesise and compare international knowledge syntheses focused on scope of practice enactment (ie., roles and activities) of PCNs in primary care.; Methods and Analysis: We will conduct the umbrella review according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines, and using the Nursing Care Organization Framework as guidance. We will search a wide range of scientific electronic databases and grey literature sources, and consider articles published in English and French by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and designated key partner countries for inclusion, with no publication date limits. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles, and any disagreements will be resolved through discussion or by a third reviewer. We will use the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews to assess the quality and risk of bias in the included systematic and scoping reviews.; Ethics and Dissemination: Results will be presented in a PRISMA Scoping Review flow diagram. We will synthesise data from included studies in a detailed literature review table and develop visual aids to communicate the shared and unique roles and activities of PCN scope of practice. We will disseminate the results of the review through peer-reviewed publications and conferences related to this field. Ethics approval is not required.; (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: None declared. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Nurses; Nursing research; Primary Care; Review |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250725 Date Completed: 20250725 Latest Revision: 20250731 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12306317 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103319 |
| PMID: | 40713048 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article