Perceived benefits of nurses’ involvement in health policy: A regional narrative review from middle Eastern and South Asian countries

: Nurses play a critical role in healthcare systems, yet their active involvement in health policymaking remains limited. Comprehending the advantages of such engagement can provide critical insights for the advancement of the nursing profession and the enhancement of health systems. The goal of this narrative review was to look at and combine the evidence that already exists about the perceived benefits of nurses' involvement in health policymaking within Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. An extensive literature search was performed across various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Research published in English till June 2025 was evaluated. Inclusion criteria focused on studies that reported benefits of nurses’ involvement in health policy. Data from five eligible studies were analyzed. Six studies from Jordan, Iran, Egypt, and Pakistan met the inclusion criteria. Despite predominantly low levels of actual participation, nurses reported multiple perceived benefits of involvement in health policymaking. These benefits included individual-level development (such as skill acquisition, confidence building, and professional growth), contributions to public and population health, opportunities for communication and influence, and strengthened nursing autonomy and system performance. Qualitative findings also identified several facilitators such as collaboration, organizational support, and more accessible policy pathways that may enhance nurses’ engagement in policymaking. Nurses in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries perceive clear personal, professional, and system-level benefits from participating in health policymaking, including skill development, increased confidence, and contributions to public health. Despite these recognized advantages, actual participation remains limited. Strengthening organizational and structural support may help translate these perceived benefits into greater policy engagement.