Exploring the nexus between the standardized nursing terminologies and the unfinished nursing care phenomenon: An empty systematic review

Purpose: To identify and synthesize evidence regarding the documented relationship between the standardized nursing terminologies and the unfinished nursing care phenomenon. Data sources: A systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Complete databases were last consulted on November 27, 2023. The review included primary quantitative studies that reported an association between recognized standardized nursing terminologies and unfinished nursing care. Two researchers completedtitle and abstract and full-text screening. Data synthesis: Our search identified 149 citations. A full-text review of one paper was undertaken. No studies met our inclusion criteria. We report an empty review. Conclusions: Standardized nursing terminologies and Unfinished Care are two sides of the same coin: despite their potential commonalities, no studies have documented their potential links. Digital systems, such as electronic health records and decision support systems, could foster this linkage. Implications for nursing practice: This review suggests that linking the conceptual frameworks can promote the diffusion of standardized nursing terminologies in clinical practice and increase accuracy in the measurement of Unfinished Care. This synergy could promote the contribution of nursing knowledge to patient care, nursing visibility, and be beneficial to clinical nurses, managers, and healthcare systems to international level.