Barriers and Solutions to the Gap between Theory and Practice in Nursing Services: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence

Abstract

Background. The phenomenon of theory‐practice gap has endured within the field of nursing from the era of Florence Nightingale until today, persistently manifesting negative consequences within the profession by accentuating the dichotomy between theoretical understanding and the practical dimensions of nursing. This prevalent issue necessitates comprehensive examination to unveil all the circumstances and variables that fuel the gap, along with exploring viable resolutions to bridge these divides. Objective. To identify, summarize, and synthesize literature on the causes leading to theory‐practice gaps and solutions in nursing profession. Methods. MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, EMCARE, ERIC, and Ovid were searched from 2012 to December 2022. Eligible reviews addressed causes of the theory to practice gap in nursing. Extracted data from included reviews were synthesized using guidelines for meta‐synthesis along with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for qualitative research. Result. The analysis of studies yielded 22 significant findings, subsequently categorized into six thematic areas based on their contextual similarity. Following this, a meta‐aggregation process combined these categories, generating two synthesized findings: (1) barriers for the gap and (2) facilitators for the gap. Barriers for the gap had three subcategories: “clinical life challenges,” “misconception of clinical nursing,” and “lack of collaboration between universities and clinical settings.” The second synthesis was “Facilitators for the gap” which had two subcategories: “create clinically culture‐based content” and “develop clinically based curriculum.” Conclusion. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current understanding of barriers and facilitators influencing the theory‐practice gap in the field of nursing. To effectively reduce this gap in nursing care, stakeholders such as regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals, and academic institutions must take into account various contextual factors while recognizing the ever‐evolving nature of the healthcare environment.