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.

2009
Trust, mistrust, racial identity and patient satisfaction in urban African American primary care patients of nurse practitioners.
Publication: Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Author/s: Ramona Benkert, Barbara Hollie, Cheryl K Nordstrom, Bethany Wickson, Lisa Bins-Emerick
DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01273.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
A unique practice model for Nurse Practitioners in long-term care homes.
Publication: Journal of advanced nursing
Author/s: Carrie A McAiney, Dilys Haughton, Jane Jennings, Dave Farr, Loretta Hillier, Pat Morden
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04628.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
An evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of nurse practitioners in an adult emergency department.
Publication: International journal of nursing practice
Author/s: Anne Wilson, Fathimath Shifaza
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2008.00678.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
An overview of patients' preference for, and satisfaction with, care provided by general practitioners and nurse practitioners.
Publication: Journal of clinical nursing
Author/s: Miranda G H Laurant, Rosella P M G Hermens, Joze C C Braspenning, Reinier P Akkermans, Bonnie Sibbald, Richard P T M Grol
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02288.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Contributions of surgical residents to patient satisfaction: impact of residents beyond clinical care.
Publication: Journal of surgical education
Author/s: Andrew S Resnick, Maureen Disbot, Angela Wurster, James L Mullen, Larry R Kaiser, Jon B Morris
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2008.01.005
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Critical Care Nurse Practitioners Improve Compliance With Clinical Practice Guidelines in “Semiclosed” Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Publication: Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Author/s: Vicente H. Gracias, Corinna P. Sicoutris, S. Peter Stawicki, Denise M. Meredith, Annamarie D. Horan, Rajan Gupta, Elliott R. Haut, Sue Auerbach, Seema Sonnad, C. William Hanson, C. William Schwab
DOI: 10.1097/01.NCQ.0000323286.56397.8c
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://journals.lww.com/00001786-200810000-00009
2008
Effects of patient-centered care on patient outcomes: an evaluation.
Publication: Research and theory for nursing practice
Author/s: Souraya Sidani
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Evaluation of the role of the pediatric nurse practitioner in an inpatient asthma program.
Publication: Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
Author/s: Anne Borgmeyer, Patricia M Gyr, Patricia A Jamerson, Lisa D Henry
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2007.07.004
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Home-based intermediate care program vs hospitalization: Cost comparison study.
Publication: Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
Author/s: Catherine Deri Armstrong, William E Hogg, Jacques Lemelin, Simone Dahrouge, Carmel Martin, Gary S Viner, Raphael Saginur
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Introducing a nurse practitioner into an urban Canadian emergency department
Publication: CJEM
Author/s: Ivan P. Steiner, Sandra Blitz, Darren N. Nichols, Dwight D. Harley, Leneela Sharma, Andrew P. Stagg
DOI: 10.1017/S1481803500010368
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1481803500010368/type/journal_article
2008
Patient satisfaction with nurse practitioner care in emergency departments in Canada.
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Christine Thrasher, Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00312.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
Quality of diabetes care in family medicine practices: influence of nurse-practitioners and physician's assistants.
Publication: Annals of family medicine
Author/s: Pamela A Ohman-Strickland, A John Orzano, Shawna V Hudson, Leif I Solberg, Barbara DiCiccio-Bloom, Dena O'Malley, Alfred F Tallia, Bijal A Balasubramanian, Benjamin F Crabtree
DOI: 10.1370/afm.758
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2008
The role and effectiveness of a nurse practitioner led critical care outreach service.
Publication: Intensive & Critical Care Nursing
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2008.04.007
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=105592076&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2008
Trust of nurse practitioners and physicians among African Americans with hypertension.
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Ramona Benkert, Rosalind Peters, Nutrena Tate, Ellen Dinardo
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00317.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
A systematic review of the impact of nurse practitioners on cost, quality of care, satisfaction and wait times in the emergency department.
Publication: CJEM
Author/s: Alix J E Carter, Alecs H Chochinov
DOI: 10.1017/s1481803500015189
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Discharge rounds in the 80-hour workweek: importance of the trauma nurse practitioner.
Publication: Journal of Trauma
Author/s:
DOI: 10.1097/ta.0b013e3180d0a8a6
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=106021091&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2007
Effectiveness of a chronic kidney disease clinic in achieving K/DOQI guideline targets at initiation of dialysis--a single-centre experience.
Publication: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association
Author/s: William Lee, Sarah Campoy, Gerard Smits, Zung Vu Tran, Michel Chonchol
DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfl701
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.a…

" target="_blank">Evaluating a nurse practitioner-led model in reducing inpatient drug cost.
Publication: Communicating Nursing Research
Author/s:
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
URL: https://uhn.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cul&AN=105763386&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2007
Evaluation of the fast track unit of a university emergency department.
Publication: Journal of emergency nursing
Author/s: Kathleen Nash, Brian Zachariah, Jennifer Nitschmann, Benjamin Psencik
DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2006.08.003
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
GAPN postacute care coordination improves hip fracture outcomes
Publication: Western Journal of Nursing Research
Author/s: Kathleen Krichbaum
DOI: 10.1177/0193945906293817
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Geriatric care management for low-income seniors: a randomized controlled trial.
Publication: JAMA
Author/s: Steven R Counsell, Christopher M Callahan, Daniel O Clark, Wanzhu Tu, Amna B Buttar, Timothy E Stump, Gretchen D Ricketts
DOI: 10.1001/jama.298.22.2623
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Medical care of asylum seekers: a descriptive study of the appropriateness of nurse practitioners' care compared to traditional physician-based care in a gatekeeping system.
Publication: BMC public health
Author/s: Patrick Bodenmann, Fabrice Althaus, Bernard Burnand, Paul Vaucher, Alain Pecoud, Blaise Genton
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-310
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Motivational interviewing with hazardous drinkers.
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Nancy Beckham
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2006.00200.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Nurse practitioners and managed care: patient satisfaction and intention to adhere to nurse practitioner plan of care.
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Author/s: Eileen Hayes
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2007.00245.x
Collection: Nurse Practitioner
2007
Nurse practitioners as attending providers for injured workers: evaluating the effect of role expansion on disability and costs.
Publication: Medical care
Author/s: Jeanne M Sears, Thomas M Wickizer, Gary M Franklin, Allen D Cheadle, Bobbie Berkowitz
DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181468e8c
Collection: Nurse Practitioner