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.

2015
https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc/articles/comparison-…

" target="_blank">Comparison of Nurse Practitioner and Physician Practice Models in Nursing Facilities
Publication: Annals of Long-Term Care
Author/s: PhD Karen Devereaux Melillo, PhD Ruth Remington, PhD Lisa Abdallah, PhD1 Ramraj Gautam, PhD1 A. James Lee, M. S. Deborah Van Etten, PhD1 Rebecca J. Gore
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc/articles/comparison-nurse-practitioner-and-physician-practice-models-nursing-facilities
2015
Cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led internet-based vascular risk factor management programme: economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled clinical trial
Publication: BMJ open
Author/s: J. P. Greving, H. a. H. Kaasjager, J. W. P. Vernooij, M. M. C. Hovens, J. Wierdsma, H. M. H. Grandjean, Y. van der Graaf, G. A. de Wit, F. L. J. Visseren
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007128
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Cost-effectiveness of nurse practitioners in primary and specialised ambulatory care: systematic review.
Publication: BMJ open
Author/s: Ruth Martin-Misener, Patricia Harbman, Faith Donald, Kim Reid, Kelley Kilpatrick, Nancy Carter, Denise Bryant-Lukosius, Sharon Kaasalainen, Deborah A Marshall, Renee Charbonneau-Smith, Alba DiCenso
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007167
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Diabetes Mellitus Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners vs Primary Care Physicians.
Publication: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Author/s: Yong Kuo, Goodwin Fang, Chen James S., Lwin Wei, Baillargeon Kyaw K., Raji Jacques
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13662
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=110425639&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2015
Differences between nurse practitioner and physician care providers on rates of secondary cancer screening and discussion of lifestyle changes among breast cancer survivors.
Publication: Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice
Author/s: Tiffany C Kenison, Paula Silverman, Marla Sustin, Cheryl L Thompson
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-014-0405-z
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Effect of a Dedicated Orthopaedic Advanced Practice Provider in a Level I Trauma Center: Analysis of Length of Stay and Cost
Publication: Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
Author/s: Elise A. Hiza, Michael B. Gottschalk, Erica Umpierrez, Patricia Bush, William M. Reisman
DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000261
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://journals.lww.com/00005131-201507000-00013
2015
Emergency NP Model of Care in an Australian Emergency Department
Publication: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Natasha Jennings, Glenn Gardner, Gerard O’Reilly, Biswadev Mitra
DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.05.008
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1555415515005954
2015
Evaluating emergency nurse practitioner service effectiveness on achieving timely analgesia: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.
Publication: Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Author/s: Natasha Jennings, Glenn Gardner, Gerard O'Reilly, Biswadev Mitra
DOI: 10.1111/acem.12687
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Nurse Practitioner-Led Outreach Program for Long-Term-Care Homes.
Publication: The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres
Author/s: Maher M El-Masri, Abeer Omar, Eleanor M Groh
DOI: 10.1177/084456211504700304
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Evaluation of a nurse practitioner-led extended hours mental health liaison nurse service based in the emergency department.
Publication: Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association
Author/s: Timothy Wand, Natalie D'Abrew, Catherine Barnett, Louise Acret, Kathryn White
DOI: 10.1071/ah14100
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Follow-up evaluation of first two cohorts of graduates of the Zambian HIV nurse practitioner program
Publication: International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijans.2015.01.002
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-africa-nursing-sciences/
2015
Hospital to community transitional care by nurse practitioners: a systematic review of cost-effectiveness.
Publication: International journal of nursing studies
Author/s: Faith Donald, Kelley Kilpatrick, Kim Reid, Nancy Carter, Denise Bryant-Lukosius, Ruth Martin-Misener, Sharon Kaasalainen, Patricia Harbman, Deborah Marshall, Alba DiCenso
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.07.011
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Impact of APN Home Visits in Reducing Healthcare Costs and Improving Function in Homebound Heart Failure
Publication: Home Healthcare Now
Author/s: Lisa M. Echeverry, Karen V. Lamb, Joanne Miller
DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000000304
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Impact of nurse practitioners in primary healthcare fee-for-service practice settings.
Publication: Healthcare management forum
Author/s: Lihong Sun, Rachel A Jackson, Heather Dunne, Victoria A Power
DOI: 10.1177/0840470414551904
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Impact of Nurse Practitioners on Hip Fracture Length of Stay.
Publication: Journal for Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Pamela K. Holte, S. Andrew Sems, Kristin Fruth
DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.08.021
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=111246146&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2015
Inspiring Change: How a Nurse Practitioner-Led Model of Care Can Improve Access and Quality of Care for Children With Medical Complexity.
Publication: Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
Author/s: Tessa Gresley-Jones, Pam Green, Shawna Wade, Rachel Gillespie
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2014.12.005
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Making the Case for Nurse Practitioners in the Emergency Department: A Clinical Case Study.
Publication: Advanced emergency nursing journal
Author/s: AtNena Tucker, Matthew Bernard
DOI: 10.1097/TME.0000000000000081
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Medication adherence in a nurse practitioner managed clinic for indigent patients.
Publication: Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Suzanne Alton, Alice L March, Laura Mallary, Kathryn Fiandt
DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12211
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Mobile Nurse Practitioner: A Pilot Program to Address Service Gaps Experienced by Homeless Individuals.
Publication: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services
Author/s: Joan Alviar Fraino
DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20150615-01
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Nurse Practitioner Care Model: Meeting the Health Care Challenges With a Collaborative Team.
Publication: Nursing economic$
Author/s: Judith Kutzleb, Rebecca Rigolosi, Andrew Fruhschien, Marianne Reilly, Anne Marie Shaftic, Andrew Fruhschien, Diane Duran, Donna Flynn
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Nurse practitioners changing health behaviours: one patient at a time.
Publication: Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)
Author/s: Esther Sangster-Gormley, Janessa Griffith, Rita Schreiber, April Feddema, Elizabeth Boryki, Joanne Thompson
DOI: 10.7748/nm.22.6.26.e1404
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Open carpal tunnel decompression by specialist versus nurse practitioner.
Publication: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (10225536)
Author/s: Nimesh G. Patel, Andy Roberton, Martha Ricketts, Cathy Millyard, Paul Birdsall, Nimesh Patel, Timothy Batten
DOI: 10.1177/230949901502300319
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=112238337&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2015
Paediatric ED reattendance rates: Comparing nurse practitioners and other clinicians
Publication: Emergency Medicine Journal
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2013-203514
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: http://emj.bmj.com/content/32/5/379.full.pdf+html
2015
Parental Satisfaction With Pediatric Preoperative Assessment and Education in a Presurgical Care Center.
Publication: Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Author/s: Dolores Delaney, Elizabeth W Bayley, Patricia Olszewsky, Jean Gallagher
DOI: 10.1016/j.jopan.2014.04.004
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2015
Patient Preference and Perception of Care Provided by Advance Nurse Practitioners and Physicians in Outpatient Adult Congenital Clinics.
Publication: Congenital heart disease
Author/s: Timothy M Maul, Ali Zaidi, Vanessa Kowalski, Jenne Hickey, Renee Schnug, Morgan Hindes, Stephen Cook
DOI: 10.1111/chd.12273
Collection: Nurse Practitioner