Charting new territories: Emerging domains of nursing jurisprudence research

The evolving landscape of health and social care, marked by technological advancements, ethical complexities, heightened legal scrutiny, and increasing rates of legal cases adjudicated against nurses necessitates a robust exploration of the intersection and application of laws to nursing practice, that is, nursing jurisprudence. Despite this great need, there remains limited empirical research which explores nursing jurisprudence. Where available, existing studies seem fragmented rather than a coherent programme of research. To address these, this paper employs a narrative review approach to catalyse efforts by synthesising emerging domains of nursing jurisprudence research and highlighting strategies for further work. Based on existing literature, four emerging trends were unpacked: nursing practice and legal liability, legal-ethical intersections, policy analysis, and nursing, technology, and law. Strategies to support further work include institutional commitment, targeted investment in nursing jurisprudence research, horizontal and vertical collaboration, and interdisciplinary synergy.