Entrepreneurial nurses in the literature: A systematic literature review

Aim This study explores the main characteristics of entrepreneurial nursing. Background Nurses have acted entrepreneurially in a multitude of ways since the very beginning of the nursing profession. Still, it is unclear what it means for a nurse to be entrepreneurial. Entrepreneurial nurses are often described inconsistently, by non-inclusive terms not founded in research. There is a need to examine the essence of entrepreneurial nursing roles. Method I conducted the research as a systematic literature review of 647 documents. Analysing empirical descriptions of entrepreneurial nurses' employment status, contexts, knowledge, activities, barriers and motivations led to the description of two entrepreneurial nursing roles. Results The employment status of entrepreneurial nurses represents an important difference in their activities, challenges and motivations. Conclusions Entrepreneurial nurses may act as nurse entrepreneurs or nurse intrapreneurs. These roles are empirically rooted in the field of nursing and theoretically rooted in the field of entrepreneurship. Implications for Nursing Management Entrepreneurial nurses are influenced by the support they get and the challenges they face in the health care system. Knowing the characteristics of entrepreneurial nurses is important for nurse managers, as they lead employees who may become nurse entrepreneurs or nurse intrapreneurs.