Nurses' Role in Nuclear Medicine Services: A Scoping Review Protocol (Part 1 of a Registered Report).

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Nuclear medicine is a highly specialized field that combines advanced technology and multidisciplinary collaboration. Despite its complexity, the role of nurses in this context remains underexplored, especially regarding their clinical and administrative activities. <b>Methods:</b> This is a scoping review protocol developed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, as recommended by the EQUATOR Network. The research question was structured using the PCC mnemonic (Population, Concept, and Context): What are the clinical and administrative activities performed by nurses in nuclear medicine services? A comprehensive search will be conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, and CINAHL, complemented by grey literature sources such as Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. No restrictions on language or publication date will be applied. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. This protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) and is publicly accessible. The selection process will be detailed in a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram. A descriptive table will summarize the characteristics of the included studies, including the authors, year, country, study type, objectives, population, main nursing activities, and key findings. <b>Expected Outcomes:</b> The anticipated results are expected to clarify nurses' contributions to patient safety and service quality in nuclear medicine. <b>Conclusions:</b> This review may also support the development of an assessment tool for nursing activities, guide professional training, and inform policies to strengthen nursing practice in this specialized field.