Nurse effectiveness open library

Welcome

The RNAO Nurse Effectiveness Library features a comprehensive collection of publications highlighting nurses’ impact on the Quintuple Aim. Explore evidence of nurses driving health system transformation and leading evidence-based change across sectors in Canada and globally.

Nurse effectiveness

Designed to inform research, policy and clinical practice, this library is the result of a comprehensive scoping review (2000–2025). Conducted in 2024–2025, the review assessed nurses’ global impact across settings and sectors, focusing on contributions to health equity, patient experience, provider satisfaction, value of care, and population health, collectively known as the Quintuple Aim. 

Findings informed the creation of the Nurse Effectiveness Open Library, a resource that currently shares data on Nurse Practitioners and will soon expand to include other nursing roles.  Coming Soon: Registered nurses, registered practical nurses/licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. This library provides accessible evidence to inform decision‑making and strengthen health system performance. RNAO will continue to review and update this project on a two-year cycle to reflect the latest evidence and ensure its continued relevance and impact.

Contribute to the Nurse Effectiveness Library   Contact us

Background & history

This project builds on RNAO’s earlier work showcasing 70 years of nurse effectiveness across clinical outcomes, organizational performance and financial results.

Learn more

References for registered nurse effectiveness are coming soon.

2017
New Hampshire Nurse Practitioners Take the Lead in Forming an Accountable Care Organization.
Publication: Nursing administration quarterly
Author/s: Wendy L Wright
DOI: 10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000205
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Nurse Practitioner Autonomy and Satisfaction in Rural Settings.
Publication: Medical care research and review : MCRR
Author/s: Joanne Spetz, Susan M Skillman, C Holly A Andrilla
DOI: 10.1177/1077558716629584
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Oral Anticancer Agents: An Intervention to Promote Medication Adherence and Symptom Management.
Publication: Clinical journal of oncology nursing
Author/s: Sandra L Spoelstra, Alla Sikorskii, Atreyee Majumder, Peggy S Burhenn, Monica Schueller, Barbara Given
DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.157-160
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Randomized Trial of an Integrated Behavioral Health Home: The Health Outcomes Management and Evaluation (HOME) Study.
Publication: The American journal of psychiatry
Author/s: Benjamin G Druss, Silke A von Esenwein, Gretl E Glick, Emily Deubler, Cathy Lally, Martha C Ward, Kimberly J Rask
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16050507
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Reducing Unplanned Admissions: Focusing on Hospital Admissions and Emergency Department Visits for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer During Radiation Therapy.
Publication: Clinical journal of oncology nursing
Author/s: Lauren Terzo, Mary Fleming, Alekhya Yechoor, Jayne Camporeale, Miriam Troxler, Elaine Roth, Xianming Tan, Michael Pignone, Lawrence Marks, Bhishamjit S Chera
DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.363-369
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Reengineering valve patients' postdischarge management for adapting to bundled payment models.
Publication: The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
Author/s: Michael S Koeckert, Patricia A Ursomanno, Mathew R Williams, Michael Querijero, Elias A Zias, Didier F Loulmet, Kevin Kirchen, Eugene A Grossi, Aubrey C Galloway
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.10.109
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
The Effect of Nurse Practitioner-Led Intervention in Diabetes Care for Patients Admitted to Cardiology Services.
Publication: Canadian journal of diabetes
Author/s: Suqing Li, Sylvia Roschkov, Abdullah Alkhodair, Blair J O'Neill, Constance L Chik, Ross T Tsuyuki, Gabor T Gyenes
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2016.06.008
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
The effectiveness of emergency nurse practitioner service in the management of patients presenting to rural hospitals with chest pain: a multisite prospective longitudinal nested cohort study.
Publication: BMC health services research
Author/s: Tina E Roche, Glenn Gardner, Leanne Jack
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2395-9
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
The impact of the advanced practice nursing role on quality of care, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost in the emergency and critical care settings: a systematic review
Publication: Human Resources for Health
Author/s: Brigitte Fong Yeong Woo, Jasmine Xin Yu Lee, Wilson Wai San Tam
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-017-0237-9
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5594520/
2017
The quality of primary care provided by nurse practitioners to vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries.
Publication: Nursing outlook
Author/s: Catherine M DesRoches, Sean Clarke, Jennifer Perloff, Monica O'Reilly-Jacob, Peter Buerhaus
DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2017.06.007
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2017
Using Nurse Practitioner Co-Management to Reduce Hospitalizations and Readmissions Within a Home-Based Primary Care Program.
Publication: Journal for healthcare quality : official publication of the National Association for Healthcare Quality
Author/s: Masha G Jones, Linda V DeCherrie, Yasmin S Meah, Cameron R Hernandez, Eric J Lee, David M Skovran, Theresa A Soriano, Katherine A Ornstein
DOI: 10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000059
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
24/7 Neurocritical Care Nurse Practitioner Coverage Reduced Door-to-Needle Time in Stroke Patients Treated with Tissue Plasminogen Activator.
Publication: Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
Author/s: Jennifer L Moran, Kazuma Nakagawa, Susan M Asai, Matthew A Koenig
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.01.033
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
A Nurse Practitioner-Led Intervention to Reduce Hospital Readmissions.
Publication: Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Jodi Smith, Novelli Dongmei Pan
DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.11.020
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=126065119&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2016
A qualitative study of nurse practitioner promotion of interprofessional care across institutional settings: Perspectives from different healthcare professionals
Publication: International Journal of Nursing Sciences
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2016.02.003
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-nursing-sciences/
2016
An Evaluation of the Quality and Patient Satisfaction With an Advanced Nurse Practitioner Service in the Emergency Department.
Publication: Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Miriam Griffin, Joe McDevitt
DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2016.05.024
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=126065682&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2016
Cost Analysis of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Transitional Care Model for Cardiac Patients.
Publication: Nursing economic$
Author/s: Sherry M Bumpus, Barbara L Brush, Jack Wheeler, Susan J Pressler, Kim A Eagle, Melvyn Rubenfire
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Diabetes Transition Care From an Inpatient to Outpatient Setting in a Veteran Population: Quality Improvement Pilot Study
Publication: The Diabetes educator
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1177/0145721716642020
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Effectiveness and outcomes of a nurse practitioner-run chest pain evaluation unit
Publication: Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12377
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Effectiveness and Safety of an Independently Run Nurse Practitioner Outpatient Cardioversion Program (2009 to 2014).
Publication: The American journal of cardiology
Author/s: Linda Norton, Angela Tsiperfal, Kelly Cook, Ani Bagdasarian, John Varady, Manali Shah Sheth, Paul Wang
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.08.074
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Effectiveness of nurse-led clinics on service delivery and clinical outcomes in adults with chronic ear, nose and throat complaints: a systematic review
Publication: JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports
Author/s: Caroline Whiteford, Sarahlouise White, Matthew Stephenson
DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-2237
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: http://journals.lww.com/01938924-201604000-00015
2016
Evaluation of a pilot of nurse practitioner led, GP supported rural palliative care provision
Publication: BMC Palliative Care
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-016-0163-y
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpalliatcare/
2016
Fit living in progress--fighting lifelong obesity patterns (FLIP-FLOP): A nurse practitioner delivered intervention.
Publication: Applied nursing research : ANR
Author/s: Angela Ritten, Julee Waldrop, Joanne Kitson
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2015.09.006
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Home oxygen therapy assessment for COPD patients discharged from hospital: Respiratory NP Model of Care.
Publication: Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
Author/s: Toni Hall
DOI: 10.37464/2016.334.1556
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=115983288&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2016
Image-Guided Nontargeted Renal Biopsies Performed by Radiology-Trained Nurse Practitioners: A Safe Practice Model.
Publication: Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
Author/s: Sadhna B Nandwana, Deborah G Walls, Oluwayemisi Ibraheem, Frederick Murphy, Srini Tridandapani, Kelly Cox
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2015.09.037
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2016
Impact of state nurse practitioner scope-of-practice regulation on health care delivery: Systematic review
Publication: Nursing Outlook
Author/s: Ying Xue, Zhiqiu Ye, Carol Brewer, Joanne Spetz
DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2015.08.005
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029655415002687