Chiu Patrick, Thiessen Natalie J, Idrees Sobia, Leslie Kathleen, Kung Janice Y
Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada.
PLoS One. 2025 May 16;20(5):e0323716. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0323716. eCollection 2025.
Canadian nursing regulators have implemented various innovations to reform regulatory approaches to address workforce challenges, system demands, governance reforms, and a drive for efficiency. Given the significant role that regulators play in influencing patient safety, workforce, and health system outcomes, decision-making must be evidence-informed. This review examined the nature, extent, and range of literature related to nursing regulation in Canada and how the existing scholarship aligns with emerging regulatory and health system trends to inform the development of a research agenda. The review was conducted following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and with the support of a medical research librarian. A total of 195 sources, including scholarly (n = 156, 80%) and grey literature sources (n = 39, 20%), were included and reviewed. Just over half of the included scholarly sources were empirical studies (n = 80, 51.3%). The number of publications has steadily increased over the last few decades, and the majority of sources were situated in a provincial/territorial context (n = 104, 53.3%), followed by the national (n = 67, 34.4%) and global context (n = 24, 12.3%). The majority of the literature was led by scholars or professional groups unaffiliated with nursing regulators (n = 129, 66.2%). In contrast, nursing regulators led, commissioned, or were involved in a smaller portion of sources (n = 66, 33.8%). The largest category of literature focused on regulatory models, governance structures, and reforms (n = 59, 30.3%); followed by registration and licensure (n = 57, 29.2%); nursing roles and standards (n = 53, 27.2%); conduct, complaints, and discipline (n = 13, 6.7%); continuing competence programs (n = 11, 5.7%); and education program approval/accreditation (n = 2, 1%). The current literature base related to nursing regulation in Canada is largely descriptive and non-empirical and may not provide sufficient evidence to inform regulatory decision-making. This highlights opportunities for regulators and researchers to enhance collaboration to co-create research agendas that can maximize knowledge development and mobilization efforts.
加拿大护理监管机构实施了各种创新举措，以改革监管方式，应对劳动力挑战、系统需求、治理改革以及提高效率的需求。鉴于监管机构在影响患者安全、劳动力和卫生系统成果方面发挥着重要作用，决策必须以证据为依据。本综述研究了与加拿大护理监管相关的文献的性质、范围和种类，以及现有学术研究如何与新兴的监管和卫生系统趋势相契合，以为研究议程的制定提供参考。该综述遵循循证卫生保健国际协作组织（JBI）的范围综述方法，并在医学研究图书馆员的支持下进行。总共纳入并审查了195篇文献，包括学术文献（n = 156，80%）和灰色文献（n = 39，20%）。纳入的学术文献中略多于一半是实证研究（n = 80，51.3%）。在过去几十年中，出版物数量稳步增加，大多数文献来自省级/地区背景（n = 104，53.3%），其次是国家背景（n = 67，34.4%）和全球背景（n = 24，12.3%）。大多数文献由与护理监管机构无关的学者或专业团体主导（n = 129，66.2%）。相比之下，护理监管机构主导、委托或参与的文献占比更小（n = 66，33.8%）。最大的文献类别聚焦于监管模式、治理结构和改革（n = 59，30.3%）；其次是注册和许可（n = 57，29.2%）；护理角色和标准（n = 53，27.2%）；行为、投诉和纪律处分（n = 13，6.7%）；持续能力计划（n = 11，5.7%）；以及教育项目批准/认证（n = 2，1%）。目前与加拿大护理监管相关的文献库大多是描述性的且非实证性的，可能无法提供足够的证据来为监管决策提供参考。这凸显了监管机构和研究人员加强合作以共同制定研究议程的机会，从而最大限度地促进知识发展和知识传播。
