Nursing Innovation, from Process to Product: A Scoping Review

Aim. To review the current literature on the developing role of nursing innovation, specifically, those nurses who have progressed their innovative practice into product development. Design. A scoping review was conducted utilising the Population, Concept, Context framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Data Sources. An initial search was performed in February 2023 with a repeat search and revision to the review completed in September 2023. Electronic searches of the British Nursing Index, Current Index of Nursing Allied Health Literature, Emerald Insight, National Health Service Knowledge and Library Hub, and Google Scholar™ were undertaken using the terms Nursing AND (new product development) AND (device innovation). Two authors (LS and MS) also undertook hand searching of relevant reference lists. Review Methods. Two authors were involved in the screening process of available and relevant literature (LS and MS) with the third author (FH) available for decision-making in the event of any generated disagreements. Results. We undertook a review of seventeen papers from 274 results. The impetus of nursing innovation, defining the nurse inventor, facilitators to the nurse inventor concept, and barriers to the nurse inventor concept were all identified as themes to be explored. Conclusion. The nurse inventor concept requires further challenge and clarity. Nurses should aim for a consensus of definition, typology, scope of practice, and job planning. Healthcare institutions should acknowledge and explore this novel role in detail, with consideration afforded to how the role is to be specified and integrated into today’s nursing practice roles. Reporting Method. Adherence to EQUATOR guidance was achieved through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.