Return to Work Processes for Nurses with Operational Stress Injuries: A Scoping Review

Despite increasing awareness of the psychological toll on nurses, there is little synthesized evidence on the return-to-work (RTW) experience and supports for nurses following an operational stress injury (OSI). Although broader research addresses OSI, burnout, and mental health in healthcare, few studies examine the reintegration process or the unique barriers nurses face when returning to practice after trauma-related psychological injury (Jones et al., 2023a, 2023b, 2024). This gap limits the development of effective, evidence-informed RTW programs. Objectives This study explores current knowledge on the RTW process for nurses with OSIs and identifies key practice, policy, and research gaps. The findings aim to inform trauma-informed, supportive frameworks that enhance recovery, promote retention, strengthen psychological safety, and guide future research and policy development