The influences of nursing students’ prevention and control practice behaviours on emerging and re-emerging respiratory viral illnesses: an integrative review and narrative synthesis

Aim: To gather, analyse and synthesise empirical evidence regarding the influences of Infection Prevention and Control practice (IPC) behaviours for nursing students on emerging and re-emerging respiratory viral illnesses. Background: In many countries, undergraduate nursing students are often deployed at the point-of-care, as part of their Professional Experience Placement; where they provide direct care to patients with respiratory viral illnesses. Despite this exceptional situation offering learning opportunities for them, nursing students often endure challenging experiences that have an impact on their learning trajectories. To set up strategies for improvement, an understanding of the influences of their behaviours on IPC practices and care responsibilities in the context of common respiratory viral illnesses is warranted. Design: An integrative systematic review and narrative synthesis. Methods: Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) five-step framework was adopted. The databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and PsycINFO (August to November 2024). The search process identified sixteen studies, which were screened for quality using the Covidence tool and appraised using Joanna Briggs’ checklist. A Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting tool was used to ensure transparency in the review process. Results: The review included sixteen studies that explored the topic in the context of COVID-19, MERS and Influenza. The overarching influences emerged as Academic Support, Personal Attributes and Point-of-Care Support. Conclusion: Academic Support, Personal Attributes and Point-of-Care Support influences emphasise a direction for the future nursing workforce's readiness to respond effectively to existing and re-emerging respiratory viral illnesses. Reinvisioning IPC practices for nursing students is crucial for promoting a strong safety culture.