Explanatory factors for the political activity of nursing staff
A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2025.59.4.3308Keywords:
policy, nurses, health policy, healthcareAbstract
Introduction: The role of nurses in political processes is crucial for improving health policy and quality of care, yet their participation is often limited by various challenges. The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with nurses' active involvement in healthcare policy-making.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature in the CINAHL, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed and COBIB.SI databases. We included freely accessible scientific articles published in Slovenian and English between 2014 and 2022. The literature search process is presented in a PRISMA diagram. The results were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: A total of 12 studies were included in the final analysis: two systematic literature reviews, five qualitative studies, and five cross-sectional surveys from nine countries. Four thematic categories were identified: (1) strengths of nurses' participation in policy-making, (2) weaknesses and challenges of nurses' political participation, (3) opportunities to increase nurses' political participation, and (4) barriers to nurses' participation in the political process.
Discussion and conclusion: Nurses play a significant role in ensuring quality health care and could contribute to better policy decisions in the healthcare sector. However, they encounter several challenges, such as lack of motivation, a passive role in policy making and limitations related to the organisational structure of the health system. Ways to enhance nurses' participation in policy-making include improving their political competence, promoting participation, and strengthening empowerment at the organisational level. Coordinated action by all actors in the health system, along with appropriate support and training to develop nurses' political competence, is key to improving nurses' political engagement.
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