{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,18]],"date-time":"2026-10-18T16:42:46Z","timestamp":1792341766957,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792108800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792108800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Policy, Politics, &amp; Nursing Practice"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Evidence-based nursing career development programs can support workforce planning, retention, and recruitment by harmonizing career guidance, capability development, and progression. Despite their recognized value, utilization varies across countries, organizations, and specialties, with limited evaluation of their development, implementation, or effectiveness. This scoping review explores key themes to inform nursing career development for Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies areas for further research.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the evaluation of nursing career development programs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Method:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A scoping review was conducted using Levac's six-step model. Rayyan software supported extraction and synthesis. CINAHL, ProQuest Central, PubMed, Scopus, and Policy Commons were searched for peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2005 and 2025.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, reflecting the scarcity of research in this area. Three key themes emerged: (a) differing program structures, (b) varied outcome measures and implementation approaches, and (c) individual and organizational barriers and facilitators. Evidence suggests career development programs positively impact professional development and nurse retention, but challenges include administrative burden and difficulties in measuring effectiveness.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This review highlights a significant gap in evaluating nursing career development programs globally. Evidence supports these programs as valuable tools for workforce development, while knowledge gaps remain regarding patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Protocol Registration:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Open Science Framework (doi.org\/10.17605\/OSF.IO\/QK5MG).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/15271544261486398","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T11:19:14Z","timestamp":1792149554000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Evaluating Nursing Career Development Programs: A Scoping Review"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6156-6057","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kathy","family":"Holloway","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, Faculty of Education, Health and Psychological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julia","family":"Slark","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Auckland\u2014City Campus"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Manning","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_1","volume-title":"National nursing workforce strategy: Round two consultation summary report","author":"Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care","unstructured":"Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2024, December 19). National nursing workforce strategy: Round two consultation summary report. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. https:\/\/www.health.gov.au\/resources\/publications\/national-nursing-workforce-strategy-round-two-consultation-summary-report"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_1","volume-title":"Recover to rebuild: investing in the nursing workforce for health system effectiveness","author":"Buchan J.","year":"2023","unstructured":"Buchan J., Catton H. (2023). Recover to rebuild: investing in the nursing workforce for health system effectiveness. International Council of Nurses."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_1","unstructured":"Clark T. (2024). The clinical ladder program through the perceptions of registered nurses: a program evaluation (Doctoral dissertation University of Phoenix)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00002800-199701000-00017"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_1","volume-title":"2025 global health care outlook","author":"Deloitte.","year":"2025","unstructured":"Deloitte. (2025). 2025 global health care outlook. Deloitte Insights. https:\/\/www.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/insights\/industry\/health-care\/life-sciences-and-health-care-industry-outlooks\/2025-global-health-care-executive-outlook.html"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_7_1","unstructured":"Hansen V. (2023). Evaluation of a revised clinical ladder program in addressing clinical competence and performance accountability professional growth rewards and benefits job satisfaction and engagement and autonomy and decision making (Doctor of Nursing Practice project George Washington University)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_1","volume-title":"Nursing retention toolkit: Improving the working lives of nurses in Canada. Government of Canada","author":"Health Canada","year":"2024","unstructured":"Health Canada. (2024). Nursing retention toolkit: Improving the working lives of nurses in Canada. Government of Canada. https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/health-care-system\/health-human-resources\/nursing-retention-toolkit-improving-working-lives-nurses.html"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2024\/8296762"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/NND.0b013e31819b5c25"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0077279"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/JXX.0000000000000866"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/NNA.0000000000001250"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-5-69"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nepr.2022.103347"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_16_1","unstructured":"National Health Service England. (2023). NHS long term workforce plan. https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/publication\/nhs-long-term-workforce-plan"},{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_3_3_17_1","article-title":"Evaluation of the feasibility of an education-career pathway in healthcare for older people (ECHO) for early career nurses","volume":"18","author":"Naughton C.","year":"2023","unstructured":"Naughton C., Hayes N., Ezhova I., Fitzpatrick J. M. (2023). Evaluation of the feasibility of an education-career pathway in healthcare for older people (ECHO) for early career nurses. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 18(6), e12526. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/opn.12526","journal-title":"International Journal of Older People Nursing"},{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_3_3_18_1","first-page":"353","article-title":"Evaluation of a career ladder program in an ambulatory care environment","volume":"26","author":"Nelson J.","year":"2008","unstructured":"Nelson J., Cook P. (2008). Evaluation of a career ladder program in an ambulatory care environment. Nursing Economics, 26(6), 353\u2013360.","journal-title":"Nursing Economics"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_19_1","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page M. J.","year":"2021","unstructured":"Page M. J., McKenzie J. E., Bossuyt P. M., Boutron I., Hoffmann T. C., Mulrow C. D., Moher D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. 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