SynthesisInternational nursing review2025
Barriers and Enablers to Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in International nursing review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- Barriers to Implementing Specialist and Advanced Specialist Nursing Roles in Jordan: Perspectives of Regulators, Nursing Leaders, and Educators.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing · 2026Article
- The practical impact of postgraduate leadership education on Registered Nurses' practice: a narrative inquiry.Journal of research in nursing : JRN · 2026Article
- Advancing Clinical Competence Through Interprofessional Education: Perspectives and Experiences of Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Educators.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2026Article
- Article
- Actual Scope of Nursing Practice and the Influencing Factors: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study in China.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- Identifying High-Performance Advanced Practice Profile of Specialist Nurses in Mainland China: A Mixed-Methods Sequential Explanatory Study.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- Digital transformation of home-based care: a narrative review of nursing, technology, and management synergies.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Exploring training transfer in neurosurgical specialty nurse education: a qualitative descriptive study.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Article
- Determinants and outcomes of advanced practice nurses' leadership behaviours: an AI-aided mixed-methods systematic review protocol.Systematic reviews · 2025Article
- Implementation fidelity of universal design for learning and effects on student achievement engagement and belonging.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Job descriptions as drivers for changes in practice patterns: a cross-sectional survey of Nurse Practitioners in Norway.BMC nursing · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTo explore the barriers and enablers influencing leadership enactment by advanced practice nurses and assess how these have evolved over the past decade.
introductionNurses in advanced practice roles are well-positioned to drive healthcare change, addressing patient needs and service demands. However, their leadership contributions are often underestimated, with greater emphasis placed on clinical practice and education rather than leadership and research.
methodsA systematic review of cross-sectional studies was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases for studies published between January 2015 and March 2024. Fourteen studies involving 5243 participants were narratively synthesised. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool, and findings are reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines.
findingsThe review identified 24 barriers and 18 enablers to enacting leadership in advanced practice nursing roles, grouped into eight themes across four structural levels: healthcare system, organisational, team, and individual. Key themes included leadership capacity building, role clarity, development opportunities, resource allocation, and mentorship. Major barriers were unclear roles, limited leadership training, and resource constraints, while enablers included mentorship, leadership programmes, and organisational support.
conclusionDespite progress, significant barriers persist in developing leadership capabilities within advanced practice nursing roles, particularly in healthcare systems and organisational levels. Standardised education and training pathways are needed to equip nurses for leadership roles, and further research is required to address these barriers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Strengthening leadership capacity for advanced practitioners in nursing requires sustained institutional support, standardised education, and strategic engagement with policymakers. Maximising their leadership potential can drive healthcare innovation, improve patient outcomes, and ensure the long-term sustainability of these roles. TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number CRD42024465777. REPORTING
methodThis systematic review adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and followed the PRISMA guidelines.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.