{"title":"Evaluating Nursing Career Development Programs: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Kathy Holloway, Julia Slark, Elizabeth Manning","doi":"10.1177/15271544261486398","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evidence-based nursing career development programs can support workforce planning, retention, and recruitment by harmonizing career guidance, capability development, and progression. Despite their recognized value, utilization varies across countries, organizations, and specialties, with limited evaluation of their development, implementation, or effectiveness. This scoping review explores key themes to inform nursing career development for Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies areas for further research.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the evaluation of nursing career development programs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A scoping review was conducted using Levac's six-step model. Rayyan software supported extraction and synthesis. CINAHL, ProQuest Central, PubMed, Scopus, and Policy Commons were searched for peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2005 and 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, reflecting the scarcity of research in this area. Three key themes emerged: (a) differing program structures, (b) varied outcome measures and implementation approaches, and (c) individual and organizational barriers and facilitators. Evidence suggests career development programs positively impact professional development and nurse retention, but challenges include administrative burden and difficulties in measuring effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review highlights a significant gap in evaluating nursing career development programs globally. Evidence supports these programs as valuable tools for workforce development, while knowledge gaps remain regarding patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Protocol registration: </strong>Open Science Framework (doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QK5MG).</p>","PeriodicalId":53177,"journal":{"name":"Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice","volume":" ","pages":"15271544261486398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544261486398","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Evidence-based nursing career development programs can support workforce planning, retention, and recruitment by harmonizing career guidance, capability development, and progression. Despite their recognized value, utilization varies across countries, organizations, and specialties, with limited evaluation of their development, implementation, or effectiveness. This scoping review explores key themes to inform nursing career development for Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies areas for further research.
Aim: To provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the evaluation of nursing career development programs.
Method: A scoping review was conducted using Levac's six-step model. Rayyan software supported extraction and synthesis. CINAHL, ProQuest Central, PubMed, Scopus, and Policy Commons were searched for peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2005 and 2025.
Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, reflecting the scarcity of research in this area. Three key themes emerged: (a) differing program structures, (b) varied outcome measures and implementation approaches, and (c) individual and organizational barriers and facilitators. Evidence suggests career development programs positively impact professional development and nurse retention, but challenges include administrative burden and difficulties in measuring effectiveness.
Conclusions: This review highlights a significant gap in evaluating nursing career development programs globally. Evidence supports these programs as valuable tools for workforce development, while knowledge gaps remain regarding patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Protocol registration: Open Science Framework (doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QK5MG).
期刊介绍：
Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that explores the multiple relationships between nursing and health policy. It serves as a major source of data-based study, policy analysis and discussion on timely, relevant policy issues for nurses in a broad variety of roles and settings, and for others outside of nursing who are interested in nursing-related policy issues.
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