Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present the results of a metasynthesis addressing significant issues relating to board appointments for nurses and women.
BACKGROUND: Nurses are rarely engaged as voting board members even though they are positioned to add value. When nurses and women are appointed to boards, their experiences reflect the struggles associated with traditional patriarchal board norms.
METHOD: A metasynthesis of qualitative studies was conducted. Seven studies from nursing and business literature were analyzed using the meta-ethnography methodology.
RESULTS: Proving worth is the central issue of nurses and women on boards.
CONCLUSION: Boardroom parity for nurses and women is an important social agenda with implications for strategic decision making in healthcare and business.