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The production of science is characterized by socio-political and technological forces that influence what knowledge is produced. In this context, empty reviews have received little attention, with debate ranging over the pros and cons of their publication. However, their dissemination may improve the ability to recognize and prioritize research gaps. The main aim of the study was to map empty reviews published in nursing science.
A scoping review in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley, Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews. The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework database in April 2025. Four databases and grey literature were searched; there were eligible scoping or systematic reviews defined as “empty” in the field of nursing. A modified framework of Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice, and Research recommendations was used to summarize the extracted data.
Fifteen empty reviews were identified. In terms of Patterns, the empty reviews were mainly published in high-income countries over the last 10 years and related to clinical practise and outcomes, education and training, organizational and human resources, and approaches to maternity care, mental health, and nursing education. In general, reporting guidelines were used, while funding was not documented. In terms of Recommendations, more primary studies, the development of tools and the strategic use of empty reviews to inform the funding and research agenda were suggested.
Empty reviews in nursing may indicate neglected or emerging areas that can help orient research agendas to ensure equity-oriented priorities and reduce the marginalization of under-investigated topics. Recognizing empty reviews as legitimate scholarly outputs supports transparent mapping of knowledge gaps, helping funders, institutions, and research programs direct resources to under-investigated areas. Dedicated registries that publicly report empty reviews, establish minimum reporting standards, and require explicit keywords in titles and abstracts would improve transparency and accessibility, and stimulate targeted primary research that can turn “empty” areas into active inquiry. From this perspective, empty reviews may attract research investment rather than be seen as methodological failures.
To describe the factors that characterise nursing programs that continue to attract a high number of applicants even though the total number of applicants is declining.
A qualitative embedded case study in Italy on 2025.
A purposive sample of four undergraduate nursing programs for which there were more applicants than places in the last three academic years, compared to the rest of the macro-region, where an average ratio of 0.8 applicants/place was documented. Key informants (dean, clinical practice coordinator, nurse educators, students) from each program were involved. A semi-structured, open-ended interview was conducted focusing on the factors that make the identified nursing programs attractive. The recorded interviews (n = 19) were analysed thematically by triangulating the data. A member check was also conducted.
Five factors make a nursing program attractive: (1) the strategic location of the university, (2) the reputation and influence of the nursing program, (3) the structured, innovative, and open-oriented nursing curriculum, (4) the quality of the tutorial system and (5) the program's commitment to student support and development.
Even in times of declining enrollment and fewer applicants, certain factors can make a nursing program magnetic.
The map of emerging factors can serve as a strategy to help nursing programs attract students and improve their overall appeal.
What problem did the study address? ○
In some countries, there is a downward trend in applicants to the nursing profession, raising serious concerns about the growing global nursing workforce gap.
○With the decline in applicants, the long-term sustainability of nursing programs is also at risk.
○No study has investigated the factors that characterise nursing degree programs, which attract even more applicants in a context of declining attractiveness.
What were the main findings? ○
Five magnetic factors have emerged, one of which is external and the others internal to the nursing program.
○The external factors relate to the program itself—and are embedded in the social, civic and academic environment of the host university and the city.
○The internal factors relate to the strong leadership and commitment of the nursing programme to promote its quality.
Where and on whom will the research have an impact on? ○
Findings may inform actions at the policy, university and individual nursing program levels.
COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative Research Checklist.
Data collection and validation involved citizens (students) attending the identified nursing programs.
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