What is nursing work? A meta-narrative review and integrated framework

There is ample evidence that modern nurses are under strain and interventions to support the nursing workforce have not recognised complexity inherent in work. Creating a model of work may assist developing workable solutions professional problems. A new also foster cohesion among broad diverse roles. The aim this meta-narrative review was investigate how researchers, using different methods theoretical approaches, contributed understanding done evaluate trajectory research, from 1953 present. This progressed through stages planning, searching, mapping, appraisal, synthesis. total 121 articles were included review. These revealed five narratives work, where conceptualised as labour. physical labour (n = 14), emotional 53), cognitive 24), organisational 1), combinations more than one type 29 articles). paradigms identified positivist, interpretive, critical, evidence-based paradigms. Each article corresponded with paradigm narrative, creating comprehensive model. Nursing can be understood physical, emotional, cognitive, types hidden taken for granted. Nurses use articulate what they do it supports patient safety. advocate staffing allocations consider all Tweetable abstract: complex includes Staffing needs take into account.