Nursing stakeholder identification guidelines for human resources for health and health workforce development: A scoping review

AIM: To investigate the existence of guidelines on the identification of nursing stakeholders as part of planning for human resources for health processes. BACKGROUND: Effective involvement of nursing stakeholders in planning and implementing human resources for health policies is strongly advocated by leading global bodies. Systematic identification of nursing stakeholders at an early stage is fundamentally important. Guidelines to support appropriate identification and inclusion of nursing stakeholders could support the active involvement of nurses and midwives in human resources for health planning processes at all levels. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for scoping reviews. We conducted a widely inclusive search for all types of records, including searches of bibliographic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science) and manual searches of selected websites and internet archives to identify grey literature, published in English since 2009. Search terms related to guidelines, stakeholder engagement and the health workforce. RESULTS: Of the 1058 potentially relevant sources identified, two studies met inclusion criteria. Both were guidelines produced by global bodies more than 12 years ago. Cochrane guidance on reporting ‘near‐empty’ reviews was followed, and eight additional sources meeting most of the inclusion criteria were identified and critiqued. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines regarding the process of nursing stakeholder identification specific to human resources for health planning processes are scarce and require updating. Critique of recent practices suggests considerable methodological variety and sub‐optimal identification of nursing stakeholders. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Nursing stakeholder engagement is an essential component of human resources for health planning processes, and the gap in literature points to a need for up‐to‐date guidance to ensure nurses’ active involvement.