A Scoping Review of Nurse Practitioner Roles in Immigrant Health

The provision of adequate health care services to immigrants continues to be an issue in many countries. The objective of this scoping review is to examine the extent, range, nature, and characteristics of the literature for the nurse practitioner (NP) role in immigrant health. A search of 5 databases was completed, yielding 440 studies. After reviewing the abstracts and eliminating studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 5 studies qualified for the scoping review. Given that scope of NPs’ roles is expanding, this review reveals how NP care can improve immigrants’ health. Barriers to the utilization of NPs in immigrant health include language, the development of therapeutic relationships, and cultural beliefs. Overall, this review shows that there is a need for more research on the role of NPs in immigrant health, especially from the perspective of service recipients.