Evidence-Based Nursing Literature Review Template

? Title Page (APA Style)

  • Title of your paper (clear, concise, and specific)

  • Your name

  • Institutional affiliation

  • Course name and number

  • Instructor’s name

  • Date

? Abstract (150–250 words)

Provide a brief summary of your paper:

  • Purpose of the review

  • Main themes found in literature

  • Significance to nursing practice

  • Keywords (optional)

? Introduction

  • Topic Overview: Introduce the clinical issue or practice concern

  • Purpose: Explain the objective of the literature review

  • Importance: Why is this topic relevant to nursing practice?

  • PICOT Question (optional): Present your PICOT if applicable (e.g., In hospitalized elderly patients, does hourly rounding reduce fall risk compared to routine care?)

? Search Strategy

  • Databases Used: CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, etc.

  • Keywords/Search Terms: Include Boolean operators used (e.g., “nursing care” AND “pressure ulcers”)

  • Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Year range, peer-reviewed, language, type of studies

? Summary of Literature

Use a Literature Matrix/Table (you can present this as a table or describe it in paragraph format):

Author(s) Year Study Type Sample/Setting Key Findings Relevance to Practice
Smith et al. 2020 RCT 120 ICU patients Early mobility reduced LOS Supports EBP protocol

You may group findings into themes:

  • Theme 1: Intervention Outcomes

  • Theme 2: Barriers to Implementation

  • Theme 3: Patient Safety and Outcomes

? Critical Appraisal

  • Evaluate study quality, design, sample size, biases, and generalizability

  • Mention use of appraisal tools (e.g., CASP, Johns Hopkins, Melnyk’s Levels of Evidence)

  • Discuss level of evidence for each study

? Implications for Nursing Practice

  • How can the findings be integrated into practice?

  • Discuss evidence-based recommendations

  • Address feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and patient outcomes

  • Include nursing interventions, protocols, or policy change

? Limitations of the Review

  • Gaps in current research

  • Limited sample sizes or setting generalizability

  • Language restrictions or publication bias

? Conclusion

  • Summarize major findings

  • Reiterate clinical significance

  • Call for further research if needed

? References

  • APA 7th edition format

  • Include only sources cited in the text

  • Ensure peer-reviewed, scholarly sources (preferably within 5–7 years)

? Optional: Appendix

  • Literature review matrix (detailed table)

  • Evaluation tools (if used)

Would you like this template in a downloadable Word or Google Docs version? I can also help convert it into a fillable form for your project or group work.

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nursing literature synthesis matrix
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Here’s a Nursing Literature Synthesis Matrix Template designed to help you organize, compare, and synthesize research articles effectively for your nursing papers and evidence-based practice projects.

?️ Nursing Literature Synthesis Matrix Template

Author(s) & Year Purpose/Research Question Study Design & Sample Key Findings Strengths & Limitations Relevance to Nursing Practice Level of Evidence
Smith et al., 2023 To evaluate impact of hourly rounding on fall rates in elderly patients Randomized Controlled Trial, 150 patients in LTC facilities Hourly rounding reduced falls by 30% Large sample, rigorous design; limited to LTC Supports implementing hourly rounding protocols in LTC nursing Level I (RCT)
Johnson & Lee, 2021 Assess nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention Descriptive survey, 200 nurses across 3 hospitals Knowledge gaps found in 40% of nurses Self-report bias; good sample size Highlights need for targeted education in pressure ulcer prevention Level VI (Descriptive study)
Patel, 2022 Examine effects of music therapy on anxiety in ICU patients Quasi-experimental, 50 ICU patients Significant anxiety reduction post-intervention Small sample, no control group Suggests adding music therapy as complementary nursing care Level III (Quasi-experimental)

How to Use the Nursing Literature Synthesis Matrix

  • Author(s) & Year: Cite the study properly to track sources

  • Purpose/Research Question: What did the study aim to answer or investigate?

  • Study Design & Sample: Note the type of study and the participant/sample details

  • Key Findings: Summarize main results or conclusions relevant to nursing

  • Strengths & Limitations: Critically assess reliability and validity factors

  • Relevance to Nursing Practice: Explain how findings can influence clinical decisions or policies

  • Level of Evidence: Categorize according to accepted hierarchy (e.g., Melnyk, Johns Hopkins)

Tips for Effective Synthesis

  • Group studies by themes or topics after completing the matrix

  • Look for patterns, contradictions, and gaps in research

  • Use matrix data to write clear, organized literature reviews or evidence summaries

  • Combine multiple study findings to support your clinical recommendations

Would you like me to create a downloadable Excel or Word version of this matrix? It can also be customized for your specific nursing topic or project!