PURPOSE: To clarify the concept of decent work in nursing, establish an operational definition, and propose a research agenda for future studies. METHODS: Walker and Avant's concept analysis was used. Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO databases were searched using the keywords "decent work," "decent," "nurses," and "nursing" for studies published in English between 1999 and 2024. RESULTS: Nineteen articles were included for analysis. Six defining attributes of decent work in nursing were identified and structured into two hierarchical levels: higher-order foundational attributes (social protection, human rights protection, and appreciation of the nursing profession), and functional attributes (social dialogue, compensation satisfaction, and career development). Antecedents were categorized into organizational-related and personal-related factors. The consequences of decent work were classified into four categories: nurse-related, healthcare organizational-related, moral-related, and attachment-related outcomes. This concept analysis establishes an operational definition of decent work in nursing as an integrated framework of professional justice and human dignity that incorporates higher-order foundational and functional attributes. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should focus on exploring decent work across diverse nursing roles and contexts, employing varied research methodologies, and developing specialized tools to effectively assess decent work in nursing.
Zoromba et al. (Mon,) studied this question.