To explore factors influencing the implementation of a nursing care delivery model in a hospital setting.
A qualitative evidence synthesis with a thematic synthesis was conducted.
The search string consisted of four ‘cluster topics’: (1) nursing, (2) care delivery models, (3) hospital setting, (4) qualitative and mixed methods designs. Four electronic databases were searched from January 2000 until July 2024: MEDLINE (PubMed interface), Embase (embase.com interface), CINAHL (EBSCOhost interface) and Web of Science. A thematic synthesis was conducted consisting of the following steps; the ‘line-by-line’ coding of the text, the development and allocation of ‘descriptive themes’ and the generation of ‘analytical themes’.
In total, 3976 references were screened, of which 25 were included in the qualitative evidence synthesis. Eight analytical themes were generated that influence the implementation of a nursing care delivery model in a hospital setting: shared understanding of the care delivery model, ownership of the change, scope of practice and role clarity, collaboration, communication, responsibility, a double-loop process and aggregated recommendations. The themes were categorised on four different levels: vision, process, interactional factors and contextual factors.
The eight themes identified in this qualitative evidence synthesis showed that during the implementation of a nursing care delivery model, a clear implementation strategy is often missing. It is advised that future implementation processes have a clear guide and goal.
The analytical themes can guide the future implementation of a new nursing care delivery model in a hospital setting. This review can support nurses, researchers, hospital management and policymakers when implementing organisational alternatives to reorganise nursing care in a hospital setting.
The qualitative evidence synthesis was reported according to the enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research (ENTREQ) statement.
No patient or public contribution.