A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The nursing profession is expected to undergo substantial transformations in the coming years due to rapidly evolving sociocultural, environmental, and technological changes. Defining and assessing nursing competencies are essential to ensuring high-quality...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Nursing Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/56 |
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| author | Ippolito Notarnicola Alketa Dervishi Blerina Duka Eriola Grosha Giovanni Gioiello Sara Carrodano Gennaro Rocco Alessandro Stievano |
| author_facet | Ippolito Notarnicola Alketa Dervishi Blerina Duka Eriola Grosha Giovanni Gioiello Sara Carrodano Gennaro Rocco Alessandro Stievano |
| author_sort | Ippolito Notarnicola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> The nursing profession is expected to undergo substantial transformations in the coming years due to rapidly evolving sociocultural, environmental, and technological changes. Defining and assessing nursing competencies are essential to ensuring high-quality care and fostering professional development. This systematic review aims to explore the future nursing competencies required and the sociocultural factors influencing their evolution. <b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in several indexed databases PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using keywords such as “nursing competencies”, “future”, “healthcare systems”, and “demographic change”. Studies published within the last five years were included, and a rigorous quality assessment was performed. <b>Results:</b> The findings suggest that key sociocultural and technological factors—including environmental sustainability, technological advancements, innovation, globalization, urbanization, policy uncertainty, and demographic shifts—will significantly shape the development of nursing competencies. It is projected that nearly 70% of the nursing workforce will operate in highly unpredictable environments. The review highlights the need to develop interpersonal, higher-order cognitive, and system-level competencies, alongside complementary skills in personal and customer services, decision making, technology utilization, creativity, and scientific methodologies. <b>Conclusions:</b> Addressing the future challenges in nursing requires a holistic and strategic approach, including a cultural shift within the profession supported by targeted policies and sustained investment in education and continuous professional development. Training systems should prioritize the development of core competencies and promote lifelong learning to ensure adaptability in an evolving healthcare landscape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3e64cf34a0a4abb9a9da6b2efca24ec |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2039-439X 2039-4403 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nursing Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3e64cf34a0a4abb9a9da6b2efca24ec2025-08-20T02:44:54ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032025-02-011525610.3390/nursrep15020056A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic ChangesIppolito Notarnicola0Alketa Dervishi1Blerina Duka2Eriola Grosha3Giovanni Gioiello4Sara Carrodano5Gennaro Rocco6Alessandro Stievano7Department Medicine and Surgical, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, ItalyFaculty of Technical Medical Sciences, University of Medicine, 1000 Tirana, AlbaniaFaculty of Medicine and Surgical, Catholic University “Our Lady of the Good Counsel”, 1000 Tirana, AlbaniaUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment Medicine and Surgical, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, ItalyCentre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, OPI, 00149 Rome, ItalyCentre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, OPI, 00149 Rome, ItalyCentre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, OPI, 00149 Rome, Italy<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The nursing profession is expected to undergo substantial transformations in the coming years due to rapidly evolving sociocultural, environmental, and technological changes. Defining and assessing nursing competencies are essential to ensuring high-quality care and fostering professional development. This systematic review aims to explore the future nursing competencies required and the sociocultural factors influencing their evolution. <b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in several indexed databases PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using keywords such as “nursing competencies”, “future”, “healthcare systems”, and “demographic change”. Studies published within the last five years were included, and a rigorous quality assessment was performed. <b>Results:</b> The findings suggest that key sociocultural and technological factors—including environmental sustainability, technological advancements, innovation, globalization, urbanization, policy uncertainty, and demographic shifts—will significantly shape the development of nursing competencies. It is projected that nearly 70% of the nursing workforce will operate in highly unpredictable environments. The review highlights the need to develop interpersonal, higher-order cognitive, and system-level competencies, alongside complementary skills in personal and customer services, decision making, technology utilization, creativity, and scientific methodologies. <b>Conclusions:</b> Addressing the future challenges in nursing requires a holistic and strategic approach, including a cultural shift within the profession supported by targeted policies and sustained investment in education and continuous professional development. Training systems should prioritize the development of core competencies and promote lifelong learning to ensure adaptability in an evolving healthcare landscape.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/56nursing competenciesfuturehealthcare systemsdemographic changesociocultural phenomena |
| spellingShingle | Ippolito Notarnicola Alketa Dervishi Blerina Duka Eriola Grosha Giovanni Gioiello Sara Carrodano Gennaro Rocco Alessandro Stievano A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes Nursing Reports nursing competencies future healthcare systems demographic change sociocultural phenomena |
| title | A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes |
| title_full | A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes |
| title_fullStr | A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes |
| title_short | A Systematic Review of Nursing Competencies: Addressing the Challenges of Evolving Healthcare Systems and Demographic Changes |
| title_sort | systematic review of nursing competencies addressing the challenges of evolving healthcare systems and demographic changes |
| topic | nursing competencies future healthcare systems demographic change sociocultural phenomena |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/56 |
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