Description

College of Health Sciences
Research Project Template

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Healthcare Administration

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Type of Paper (Review article.)

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The Role of Nursing Management in Enhancing Quality of Care

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in Outpatient Departments in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

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First name Lastname, First name Lastname

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Abstract

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This systematic review examines the role of nursing management in enhancing the quality of care and

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operational efficiency in outpatient departments (OPDs) in Saudi Arabia, focusing on patient

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satisfaction and the challenges nursing managers face. The study synthesizes findings from various

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peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and institutional studies to assess the impact of nursing

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leadership on improving care delivery and operational performance. The review finds that effective

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nursing management, including proper staffing, resource allocation, and patient-centred communication,

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significantly enhances patient satisfaction and reduces wait times in OPDs. However, challenges such

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as staff shortages, high turnover, and cultural integration of expatriate nurses persist. Strategies

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identified to address these issues include the implementation of standardized care protocols, continuous

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professional development, and using technology to streamline operations. The study highlights the

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importance of aligning nursing management practices with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to

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modernize healthcare infrastructure and workforce training. The findings contribute to understanding

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the complexities of nursing leadership in Saudi OPDs and provide actionable recommendations for

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improving care quality and operational efficiency. Future research should explore the long-term effects

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of Vision 2030, the integration of new technologies, and the experiences of expatriate nurses in

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improving nursing management in OPDs.

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Keywords: nursing management; outpatient departments; patient satisfaction; operational efficiency;

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Saudi Arabia; healthcare leadership; Vision 2030; nurse staffing.

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1. Introduction
1.1 Subject Overview

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Healthcare quality in outpatient departments (OPDs) is a critical aspect within the healthcare

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system that is of broader focus. Outpatient departments act as entry points for medical care needs, so

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they play an essential role in patient treatment. The expanding healthcare requirements of different

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population groups compel healthcare facilities to maintain adequate and efficient healthcare delivery

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systems. Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system has relied heavily on outpatient departments since the

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government launched Vision 2030 to advance healthcare infrastructure and service delivery (Suleiman

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& Ming, 2025). Delivering high-quality services in OPDs depends mainly on proper nursing

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management practices. The daily management of outpatient services depends heavily on nursing

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managers who lead staff direction while providing prompt, appropriate care to patients. The healthcare

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facilities in Saudi Arabia encounter various obstacles, such as patient congestion, extended waiting

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periods, and irregular care standards that diminish patient satisfaction and health system results

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(Alrasheedi et al., 2019). The demand for healthcare services in Saudi Arabia grows yearly because of

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population expansion and societal urbanization (Alasiri & Mohammed, 2022). The role of nursing

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management in resolving these healthcare issues carries extreme importance. A well-organized nursing

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team enables efficient resource distribution, standardized patient care, and proper training to meet the

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healthcare needs of the patient population. Research examining how nursing leadership affects

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outpatient care quality remains scarce throughout Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system.

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1.2 A Review of Relevant Prior Research

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Multiple studies have proven nursing management to be fundamental for healthcare quality

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delivery. Mober et al. (2024) studied nursing environments that received adequate staffing levels and

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resources to produce improved patient results. The success of nursing leadership practices in outpatient

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care creates more satisfied patients, shorter wait times, and higher quality care delivery (Mober et al.,

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2024). Research on nursing management in Saudi Arabia reveals that nursing managers face significant

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challenges in balancing administrative duties with clinical responsibilities. One of the key difficulties

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highlighted by Mutair (2015) is the integration of international nursing staff. This challenge arises from

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cultural and linguistic barriers that hinder effective teamwork and communication. As a result, these

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barriers can lead to delays in care delivery and impact the overall quality of care provided to patients

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(Mutair, 2015). Alluhidan et al. (2020) additionally establish that inconsistent professional growth

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opportunities for nurses lead to inadequate care quality in Saudi OPDs. Without effective leadership,

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the nursing staff may not follow evidence-based standardized care protocols, which are the building

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blocks of care standardization for safety and quality in different healthcare environments (Alluhidan et

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al., 2020). It is evident from the above findings that limited understanding exists about the challenges

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of nursing management in Saudi Arabia’s OPDs. However, there is an even more significant gap in

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research on nursing leadership’s direct impact on care quality, patient satisfaction, and productivity in

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this area.

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1.3. Current Research Gap

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Research on nursing management in healthcare continues to expand, yet Saudi Arabian outpatient

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care lacks explicit clarity about the effects of nursing leadership. The literature shows limited evidence

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examining how nursing management resolves overcrowding and staffing issues to enhance patient

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satisfaction and care quality in OPD settings (Alasiri & Mohammed, 2022). Research on OPD care

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quality and operational efficiency through nursing leadership remains underexplored despite existing

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studies on administration and foreign nurse integration (Alsadaan et al., 2023). The available literature

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does not comprehensively examine Saudi Arabian nursing management factors, including Islamic

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healthcare practices and the integrating of foreign nurses within the healthcare system. The current state

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of research does not clarify how these factors transform nursing administration practices and their

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impact on improvements in outpatient department care delivery.

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1.4. Research Question and Hypothesis

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This study addresses an important research question:

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How does nursing management contribute to delivering superior

quality of care across Saudi Arabia’s

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outpatient departments?

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The research will test the following hypotheses after examining them first.

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H1: Effective nursing management practices lead to better patient care quality and satisfaction within

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outpatient departments in Saudi Arabia.

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H2: The quality of care delivered in OPDs suffers because nursing managers experience significant

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difficulties handling administrative and clinical responsibilities.

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H3: Optimal operational efficiency in OPDs becomes possible through implementing standardized care

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protocols, proper staff training, and improved resource allocation, leading to shorter patient waiting

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times.

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The research evaluates these three hypotheses to understand the impact of nursing management

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practices on Saudi OPD patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and wait time reduction.

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1.5. Objectives of the study

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This research investigates how nursing management practices contribute to quality

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improvement in outpatient care services throughout Saudi Arabia. The research examines nursing

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manager challenges, patient satisfaction effects, and practical operational strategies to enhance

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outcomes. A systematic review method will be used to analyze secondary data through peer-reviewed

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articles, government reports, and institutional studies. This study combines previous studies to deliver

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complete knowledge about the current nursing management practices in OPDs while presenting

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evidence-based solutions to enhance care quality standards. The research investigates the influence of

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cultural elements alongside systemic factors, including the integration of expatriate nurses and Islamic

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healthcare practices on nursing management practices. The research investigates these elements to

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reveal strategies that enable nursing managers to successfully handle Saudi Arabia’s healthcare

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environment while improving patient satisfaction and care quality. The research findings will expand

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knowledge about nursing leadership in Saudi Arabia while providing beneficial information to

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healthcare administrators, nursing staff, and policymakers. The research presents actionable guidelines

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to enhance OPD nursing leadership, which aims to generate better patient results and uphold the

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healthcare development described in Vision 2030.

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2. Materials and Methods

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2.1 Research Design

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The systematic review design served as the research methodology to effectively gather and

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analyze information from existing literature through organized procedures. The systematic review

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served as the research design to provide a detailed analysis of existing knowledge about outpatient

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department (OPD) nursing management in Saudi Arabia. The review method synthesized published

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research to show patterns, open areas, and commonalities in the literature about nursing management’s

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impact on patient service quality, satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

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2.2 Participants/Sample/Study Sample

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As a systematic review, the research did not require participant involvement or primary data

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collection. The research drew its data from peer-reviewed articles, government reports, healthcare

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databases, and institutional studies.

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Source Population and Target Population:

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All research articles, government reports, institutional studies, and healthcare databases that

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examined nursing management in outpatient departments in Saudi Arabia made up the source

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population for this research. Studies about nursing management practices, operational efficiency,

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patient satisfaction, staffing levels, and quality of care in OPDs formed the target population.

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Sample

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No direct participants included in this systematic review as it did not involve participant

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interaction. The research used secondary data from peer-reviewed articles , government reports, and

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healthcare databases as its sample collection. The research utilized all available studies from selected

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databases to determine its sample size.

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Sampling Procedure

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The research used an extensive search approach to retrieve suitable studies from trusted databases,

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including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The studies which met the established research

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question criteria and inclusion requirements were considered. The assessment of study suitability for

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review included abstract and full-text evaluation. The PRISMA flow chart below shows how I screened

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out the articles from the databases.

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Figure 1: PRISMA flow chart

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Inclusion Criteria

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The research only considered studies investigating nursing leadership roles in outpatient care

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facilities throughout Saudi Arabia. The research required investigation into staffing levels, resource

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distribution, patient satisfaction levels, and care quality assessment. The research examined studies

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published during the last decade because the authors wanted to assess findings that match the present

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Saudi Arabian healthcare environment. The available research materials had to be in English or Arabic

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to guarantee accessibility and relevance to the research context.

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Exclusion Criteria

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Research studies focusing on inpatient care, non-Saudi healthcare systems and subjects outside

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nursing management in outpatient settings were eliminated from the review. The study required this

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exclusion to stay focused on the particular challenges and strategies directly affecting nursing leadership

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in outpatient departments of Saudi Arabia. Research lacking specific information about nursing

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leadership and operational efficiency in OPDs received exclusion to focus on pertinent applicable data.

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Ethical Considerations

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The significant ethical aspect of this study consisted of correctly citing all data sources. Due to

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secondary data utilization, the research did not require patient confidentiality procedures or informed

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consent documentation. The research maintained ethical research standards through proper citation of

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all used sources.

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IRB Approval

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IRB approval was unnecessary since the study collected no primary data and worked with no

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human participants. The systematic review followed ethical guidelines by providing complete

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references to all sources and respecting intellectual property rights.

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2.3 Measures Included in the Research

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The study adopted measures from the outcomes and variables discovered in the chosen secondary

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data sources. The research focus variables comprised patient satisfaction, operational efficiency, quality

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of care, and nursing management practices. The variables were assessed using the information presented

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in the reviewed studies. The review assessed nursing management practices by evaluating leadership

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strategies, staff coordination, resource management, and patient satisfaction through survey results or

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interview responses documented in the studies.

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When applied to outpatient department nursing management, secondary sources provided data

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regarding these variables. The data extraction process aimed to discover essential outcomes and

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challenges alongside nursing managers’ methods to enhance both patient care and operational

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achievement. The systematic review nature did not require questionnaire implementation as part of the

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research process. The collected variables depended on data retrieved from established publications. The

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data analysis focused on qualitative examination of themes, including nursing management practices,

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patient outcomes, and operational efficiency.

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2.4 Data Collection

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Informed Consent

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Based on existing research data, the study did not require informed consent because secondary

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data was employed. The research depended entirely on published studies, and its ethical framework

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appropriately cited all the sources used.

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Time and Duration of Data Collection

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The literature review lasted two months, during which researchers performed an organized

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evaluation of published materials. A literature search took place in February, leading to selection and

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reviewing of suitable studies in March. The data extraction process, together with thematic analysis,

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was finished in April 2025.

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Mode of Data Collection

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The study used secondary source analysis to obtain data. The research obtained peer-reviewed

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articles and relevant studies from academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

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Data-gathering required researchers to review abstracts and full-text documents to evaluate their

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connection to the research inquiry.

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Time Taken to Complete the Response

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Data collection took an average of one to two hours per study across the duration of the response

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development.The duration needed to finish the data extraction phase differed according to article length

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and complexity, the evaluation of abstracts and selection process for studies required about one to two

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hours for each study.

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2.5 Data Analysis

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Data Sifting

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The relevant studies were initially selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. After selection,

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the data was sifted to retain only those studies that met the established inclusion criteria, ensuring that

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they were relevant, methodologically sound, and aligned with the research questions of this systematic

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review. The evaluation step focused on studying the quality and appropriateness of each study to

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determine their significance in understanding nursing management practices in OPDs.

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Statistical Software

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The extracted data analysis did not need statistical software since the study was a systematic

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review. NVivo and similar qualitative data analysis software helped researchers conduct thematic

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analysis and manage information gathered from multiple studies.

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Descriptive Statistics

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The researchers used descriptive statistics to present important findings from their chosen studies.

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A summary of patient satisfaction metrics, as well as operational efficiency indicators and nursing

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management strategy outcomes, was provided in the analysis.

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Statistical Tests

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This systematic review excluded chi-square tests, correlation analysis, or t-tests because of its

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nature. This analysis merged qualitative findings from chosen research to find regular patterns in

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nursing management techniques , patient satisfaction ratings, and healthcare delivery quality standards.

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Normality Testing

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Since the research did not collect primary data directly, normality tests became irrelevant. The

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study’s purpose involved combining results from existing research to discover patterns and themes

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connected to the research inquiries.

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2.6. Quality Assessment

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This systematic review applied the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist to

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minimize the risk of bias in study selection and to ensure the reliability of the findings. The JBI checklist

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is a widely used tool to assess quality of studies in systematic reviews (Munn et al., 2020). It used to

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evaluate studies in regard of several key criteria, including:

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Study Design: The study design corresponds to the research question.

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Sampling Methods: The sample is representative and the sampling techniques are appropriate.

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Data Collection and Analysis: The rigor and transparency of data collection methods, and the validity

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of the data analysis techniques.

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Study Results: Clarity, relevance, and precision of the study’s findings.

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Risk of Bias: Conflicts of interest or potential source of bias due to the way in which the study was

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designed, data collected or by the researcher.

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Application of the JBI Checklist

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All the studies included in the systematic review were evaluated using the JBI critical appraisal

Study

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tool. The final synthesis excluded studies that had a score below a specified threshold.

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The checklist allowed us to identify methodological strengths and weaknesses in the selected studies

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and only include high quality studies in the review.

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JBI Quality Assessment Table

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Study
Design

Clear
Statem
ent of
Object
ives

Appro
priate
Study
Popula
tion

Valid
Measu
remen
t Tools

Ethical
Conside
rations
Address
ed

Findin
gs
Validit
y

Approp
riatenes
s of Data
Analysis

Limitation
s
Acknowle
dged

Quality
Rating
(JBI
Criteria)

Almutairi
Systemat
et al. (2024) ic
Review

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

Alrasheedi Quantitat
et al. (2019) ive Study

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

MolinaQuantitat
Mula
& ive Study
GalloEstrada
(2020)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

Galiano et Integrativ
al. (2024)
e Review

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

Alkorashy
Quantitat
&
Al- ive Study
Hothaly
(2022)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

Alsadaan et Systemat
al. (2023)
ic
Review

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

Mutair
(2015)

Qualitati
ve Study

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

M

Rosen et al. Quantitat
(2018)
ive Study

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

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Alasiri & Policy
Mohamme Review
d (2022)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

H

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Key

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Y = Yes

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H = High

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M = Medium

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3. Results

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This systematic review presents findings about the nursing management contribution to outpatient

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department (OPD) care quality in Saudi Arabia by examining managerial challenges , patient

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satisfaction effects, and operational efficiency enhancement methods.

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245
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The combined results from the examined studies produced important themes throughout the research

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questions.

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Impact of Nursing Management on Patient Satisfaction

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The review repeatedly demonstrated that nursing management plays a vital role in improving

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patient satisfaction in outpatient departments. Several studies established that nursing leadership

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excellence through planned staff distribution, resource organization, and education programs led to

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higher patient satisfaction outcomes. Patients treated inefficiently managed OPDs expressed greater

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satisfaction because they received both prompt care and individualized attention, according to Almutairi

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et al. (2024). The patient satisfaction levels of OPDs declined when they experienced management

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issues, including insufficient staff and imbalanced resource distribution, according to Alrasheedi et al.

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(2019).The study conducted by Molina-Mula and Gallo-Estrada (2020) showed that better patient

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perceptions of care resulted from nursing managers who focused on building strong nurse-patient

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relationships through communication. Research shows that patient-centred nursing management leads

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to better clinical care quality and better patient experiences, according to Molina-Mula and Gallo-

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Estrada (2020).

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Operational Efficiency and Resource Management

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Nursing management practices demonstrate essential importance for enhancing the operational

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efficiency of OPDs. The examination demonstrated strategic management approaches to improve

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operational effectiveness through proper nurse-to-patient ratios, minimal waiting periods, and resource

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distribution optimization. Multiple research investigations showed that nursing management

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approaches directly influence patient waiting periods, thus impacting patient satisfaction levels. For

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instance, according to Alrasheedi et al. (2019), nursing managers adopting well-designed triage

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methods followed by high-acuity patient prioritization strategies successfully shortened patient waiting

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periods, produced operational processes and satisfied patients. The healthcare clinic achieved

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operational excellence and decreased administrative tasks through nursing management systems that

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integrated technological scheduling and resource management components (Galiano et al., 2024).

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Research data shows that nursing leaders can improve operational aspects and patient care delivery in

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OPDs.

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Challenges Faced by Nursing Managers in OPDs

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The analyzed studies documented several obstacles that Saudi Arabian OPD nursing managers

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encounter while showing positive results from effective nursing management. The main hurdles

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experienced by nursing managers in Saudi Arabian OPDs consisted of workforce inadequacy, frequent

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staff replacements, and difficulties integrating foreign nursing staff. Research by Alsadaan et al. (2023)

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and Mutair (2015) demonstrated that these issues formed obstacles to efficient standardized care

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protocol execution and operational enhancement. Managing staff from different cultures and languages

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presented significant challenges to nurse leaders working with many foreign nurses. According to Rosen

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et al. (2018), cultural differences between nursing staff resulted in broken communication and poorly

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coordinated teams, ultimately affecting patient care quality (Rosen et al., 2018). According to Alasiri

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& Mohammed), the healthcare service demand growth in Saudi Arabia has intensified resource

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limitations and workforce shortages.

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Strategies for Enhancing Nursing Management in OPDs

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The reviewed studies presented important findings about operational strategies managers in OPDs

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should use to enhance quality and operational performance. All studies showed a shared practice of

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deploying standardized care protocols to deliver uniform treatment experiences to patients visiting any

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facility. Patient satisfaction increased alongside better clinical results in healthcare facilities that used

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standardized care protocols, according to Alkorashy and Al-Hothaly (2022). The literature highlighted

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the continuous professional development of nursing staff as a vital strategy. Staff retention strategies

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identified as fundamental for preserving top-quality nursing talent included providing professional

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development opportunities and establishing supportive work environments (Alsadaan et al., 2023).

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Influence of Vision 2030 on Nursing Management

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Several investigations analyzed how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative affects nursing

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management procedures within OPDs. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia dedicated its funds to

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healthcare infrastructure development, employee education, and technological improvements that

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modified nursing management practices. According to Alasiri & Mohammed (2022), nursing managers

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now have the responsibility to deploy new practices and technologies that support the large-scale

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objectives of Vision 2030 to enhance operational performance and service quality. The implementation

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of new technologies has created multiple challenges despite the achieved advancements. According to

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Galiano et al. (2024), the effectiveness of technological tools for operations depends heavily on

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adequate training and support for nursing staff. Some operational inefficiencies occur in OPDs due to

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certain areas’ resource and training limitations.

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A systematic review of nursing management practices in Saudi Arabian outpatient departments

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(OPDs) provides the essential findings in Table 1. The research demonstrates that strong nursing

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administration generates benefits for patient contentment, operational excellence, and health service

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quality yet recognizes workforce problems and cultural obstacles.

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Table 1. Summary of Key Findings from the Systematic Review
Study

Findings on Nursing Key
Management Impact

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Identified

Challenges Proposed Strategies

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Almutairi et al. (2024)

Adequate

staffing, Inadequate staffing in Optimizing

resource

allocation, some OPDs

training programs, and

and training programs
increased

staffing,

resource allocation

patient

satisfaction.
Alrasheedi et al. (2019) Reduced patient wait High turnover rates, Implementing
times and improved insufficient
patient

resource systems,

satisfaction management

through effective triage

triage

improving

scheduling

and

resource management

systems.
Molina-Mula & Gallo-

Nurse-patient

Cultural and language

Fostering patient-

Estrada (2020)

communication

barriers among diverse

centered

improved patient

nursing staff

communication,

Galiano et al. (2024)

satisfaction and care

promoting cultural

quality

competency

Technology

Gaps in staff training

Providing staff

integration improved

on new technologies

training for technology

operational efficiency

usage and improving

and reduced

resource allocation

administrative
burdens.
Alkorashy & Al-

Standardized care

Challenges in

Standardizing care

Hothaly (2022)

protocols led to

maintaining

protocols,

consistent care

consistency across

implementing

delivery and higher

facilities

continuous

patient satisfaction.

professional
development

Alsadaan et al. (2023)

Mutair (2015)

Emphasis on staff

High staff turnover,

Professional

retention strategies

inadequate

development, retention

improved care quality

professional

strategies, creating

and reduced turnover.

development

supportive work

opportunities

environments

The integration of

Miscommunication,

Cultural competency

expatriate nurses

lack of team cohesion

training, improved

impacted care quality

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and team coordination

communication within

due to cultural

diverse teams

barriers.
Rosen et al. (2018)

Miscommunication

Cultural and language

Enhancing

and reduced team

barriers among

communication and

coordination

nursing staff

team-building efforts

negatively impacted

in diverse

care quality.

environments

Alasiri & Mohammed

Vision 2030 initiatives

Increased demand

Aligning nursing

(2022)

improved healthcare

leads to strain on

management with

infrastructure and

resources and staff

Vision 2030 goals,

resource availability

addressing resource
strain

4. Discussion
Statement of Principal Finding

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314

The systematic review established that nursing management is vital for enhancing operational

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efficiency, quality of care, and patient satisfaction levels throughout outpatient departments (OPDs) in

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Saudi Arabia. Nursing leadership strategies involving proper staffing activities, resource management,

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and patient-centred interactions resulted in better patient satisfaction rates and improved clinical results.

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The review study validated the research hypothesis that quality nursing practice leads to better patient

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results through shorter waiting periods and advanced care provision. The problems of high employee

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departure rates, staff deficits, and cultural difficulties for international nursing staff continued to present

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substantial barriers. The research induced different methods combining standardized treatment

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guidelines, staff training, and technological implementations to eliminate the identified obstructions

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while maximizing care excellence.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study

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The study’s main advantage comes from its extensive evaluation, which combined various

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research studies on Saudi OPD nursing management practices. The research design allowed researchers

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to develop a complete understanding of patient satisfaction and operational efficiency as well as care

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quality factors. The use of secondary data restricted the study because it depended on the quality and

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range of included studies. The systematic review methodology effectively found patterns in published

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research, but original data collection from the field would have provided more direct insights into actual

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nursing manager challenges.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of Other Studies

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The research findings of this study build upon and reinforce previous studies. The review

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supported previous findings by Almutairi et al. (2024) and Alrasheedi et al. (2019), demonstrating that

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nursing management positively affects patient satisfaction and operational efficiency. Additional

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insights emerge from this research because it explores explicitly how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

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initiatives affect nursing management practices. The infrastructure development and work, workforce

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and te, and technological enhancements initiated by Vision 2030 have influenced how leaders perform

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in OPDs. The review examined nursing management practices in OPDs influenced explicitly by the

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reforms mentioned in Alasiri Mohammed (2022). The research demonstrated significant findings yet

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revealed that more studies need to be conducted about integrating expatriate nurses alongside cultural

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challenges in OPD environments. Rosen et al. (2018) addressed these issues, yet additional research is

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necessary regarding nursing managers’ approaches to bridging cultural gaps for improved team

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coordination and care delivery.

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Possible Implications of the Study

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The research findings create significant implications for healthcare administrators, policymakers,

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and nursing managers. The study establishes that healthcare administrators and policymakers should

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dedicate funding to developing nursing leadership programs. Developing the necessary skills for

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nursing managers in staffing, resource management, and communication would result in better patient

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care and operational efficiency. Meticulous attention to staffing problems and excessive nursing

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employee departures is vital in sustaining a dependable workforce with high professional standards.

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Governmental authorities should establish retention programs with professional development support

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and workplace support systems for healthcare staff. The research demonstrates why Saudi healthcare

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needs to incorporate foreign healthcare professionals effectively. Training programs about cultural

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competence and communication skills should be developed to teach foreign nurses about handling

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cultural and language differences so they can provide better care to patients.

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Unanswered Questions

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The research delivers relevant findings, but additional questions still need clarification. Future

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research should focus on understanding the extended effects that Vision 2030 will have on nursing

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management practices within Saudi Arabia. According to this review, additional research is required to

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determine the lasting effects of Vision 2030 national reforms on nursing leadership. The analysis

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requires additional research to understand how nursing management affects clinical results that extend

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past patient satisfaction measures, including treatment success rates, protocol compliance, and recovery

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patterns. Research lacks insight into how nursing managers embrace modern healthcare technologies

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such as electronic health records and telemedicine within outpatient department management. Studies

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addressing technology adoption challenges must continue because researchers require more information

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about nursing management’s transitional process alongside methods to enhance medical service quality

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and operational efficiency.

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Future Research

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Future investigations need to concentrate on multiple specific research areas. New research should

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study how nursing management techniques influence healthcare results and healing duration. Research

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must examine nursing management practices across Saudi Arabian regions by comparing treatment

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approaches between urban-rural and public-private healthcare facilities. Research needs to investigate

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how technological progress shaped by artificial intelligence and telemedicine affects nursing

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management practices in Outpatient Departments. Knowledge of nursing leaders’ technology utilization

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methods and operational efficiency changes through these tools generates important data for better

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patient care practices. Research must explore the working experiences of foreign nurses in Saudi OPDs

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while evaluating different integration approaches meant to improve their workforce integration.

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Research on cultural competency training and team-building strategies for multicultural settings would

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allow nursing managers to handle communication issues better and enhance patient care delivery.

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Final Thoughts/Recommendations

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This research demonstrates that nursing management is essential in developing superior

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healthcare quality structures for OPDs throughout Saudi Arabia. Strategic staffing and resource

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management under effective nursing leadership lead to better operational efficiency and enhanced

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patient satisfaction, centring on patient care. Healthcare organizations should resolve problems,

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including workforce deficits, cultural hurdles, and technological implementation challenges. Healthcare

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administrators and policymakers need to establish nursing leadership development programs while

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implementing measures to enhance retention rates of healthcare staff and facilitate expatriate nurse

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integration. Future investigations should analyze the extended impacts of Vision 2030 on the healthcare

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system, study new technological applications for nursing administration, and understand the working

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conditions of foreign nurses in Saudi OPDs.

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393

5. Conclusion

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The systematic review established that nursing management is a critical factor influencing the

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quality of care delivery, operational efficiency, and patient satisfaction within outpatient departments

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(OPDs) in Saudi Arabia. Patients experience improved care outcomes and higher satisfaction when

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nursing leaders implement effective leadership strategies. These include optimized staffing practices,

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resource allocation, evidence-based decision-making, and patient-centered communication techniques.

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The research results confirm that properly managed outpatient departments benefit from nursing

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leadership’s dedication to strategic planning and resource management, which generates superior

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clinical results and enhanced patient experiences. The review exposed multiple ongoing difficulties,

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including extensive nurse staff turnover, insufficient staffing, and cultural obstacles when attempting to

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integrate foreign nurses. Multiple organizational obstacles prevent nursing management strategies from

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being fully deployed while blocking the creation of uniform quality care delivery. Throughout the

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review, the authors presented effective solutions, including standardized care protocols, continuous

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professional development, and technological integration, which help improve nursing management

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despite the identified challenges. The study results generate significant consequences for healthcare

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administrative and policy development teams. The healthcare system requires ongoing funding to train

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19 of 21

nursing leaders and develop staff retention approaches and cultural competency initiatives to solve

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staffing shortages and enhance teamwork. The implementing technologies requires sufficient training

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for nursing managers to maximize their usefulness in improving operational efficiency Advancement

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of nursing management in Saudi OPDs has shown positive results, but additional efforts are required to

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eliminate all barriers discovered in this research. Govt research must continue to measure how Vision

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2030 influences nursing leadership and how new technologies with cultural integration strengthen OPD

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care delivery.

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Acknowledgements. In this section, you can acknowledge any support given sections. This may

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include administrative and technical support of any kind.

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