Alannah L Cooper, Gavin D Leslie, Janie A Brown
The majority of studies continued to focus on the individual, failing to consider the complexity of nurse resilience. Higher levels of resilience were associated with reduced psychological harm and increased well-being. Examination of personal characteristics of the resilient nurse resulted in mixed findings. Qualitative and mixed methods research advanced the investigation of external factors that influence resilience, emphasising the importance of workplace conditions. The adverse work conditions nurses experience and the difficulties providing optimal patient care as a result of these conditions were highlighted in qualitative findings.
AIM: To update the synthesis and evaluation of research that has investigated nurse resilience and examine contemporary understanding of the influences on nurse resilience, nurses' experiences, and how resilience can impact individual nurses, patients and employers.
DESIGN: An updated integrative review.
DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO, searched from August 2019 to June 2025.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Three of the eight subthemes the original review had no new evidence in the update. Three new subthemes were generated. The three main themes from the original review, The Resilient Nurse, Nurses' Experiences of Resilience and Employment Conditions and Nurse Resilience were sustained, with the new subthemes providing additional understanding.
CONCLUSION: The majority of studies continued to focus on the individual, failing to consider the complexity of nurse resilience. Higher levels of resilience were associated with reduced psychological harm and increased well-being. Examination of personal characteristics of the resilient nurse resulted in mixed findings. Qualitative and mixed methods research advanced the investigation of external factors that influence resilience, emphasising the importance of workplace conditions. The adverse work conditions nurses experience and the difficulties providing optimal patient care as a result of these conditions were highlighted in qualitative findings.
IMPACT: This updated review describes and examines the evolution of nurse resilience research. Individual factors continued to receive the most attention. There was further investigation of external factors that influence resilience, including the impact of workplace conditions. This highlights modifiable factors in the workplace that can be included in future interventional research to promote and sustain nurse resilience.
REPORTING METHOD: This integrative review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This literature review did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.