Work

Nurses as public educators: A scoping review of literature on misinformation mitigation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • Nurses are trusted clinicians but lack clear, evidence-informed guidance on misinformation. • This review introduces emotional-cognitive labour and synthesises 5 key practice themes. • Findings inform education, policy and digital professionalism to strengthen nurses response. Health misinformation presents an ongoing challenge for healthcare systems, undermining public trust, contributing to preventable harm, and complicating clinical decision making. Nurses, as the largest and most trusted segment of the health workforce, play an important role in supporting the public to navigate inaccurate or misleading health information. Despite this potential, the opinions and perspectives of the nursing profession regarding their responsibilities and strategies in addressing misinformation have not been comprehensively mapped. To examine perspectives and recommendations within discussion, editorial, and opinion literature on nurses' roles in reducing health misinformation among the public. A scoping review. The review followed the JBI scoping review methodology and PRISMA ScR reporting guidelines. Searches were undertaken in CINAHL, Scopus, Ovid Emcare, MEDLINE, and ProQuest. The search period ranged from October 2024 to April 2025. Publications were screened for relevance to nursing responsibilities, strategies, and challenges in addressing health misinformation. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise concepts across the included papers. Thirteen publications met the inclusion criteria. Five key themes were identified:1. Advocacy for evidence based practice – emphasising the nurse's role in promoting credible information and modelling evidence informed decision making.2. Education and communication strategies – highlighting the importance of clear, accessible, and tailored communication to support public understanding.3. Professional and ethical responsibilities – outlining obligations related to professional standards, patient safety, and accountability when responding to misinformation.4. Empathy and critical thinking – recognising the need to balance compassionate dialogue with analytical appraisal of information sources.5. Social media engagement and leadership – describing opportunities for nurses to act as visible, authoritative voices on digital platforms.Across these themes, a central cross cutting concept emerged: emotional–cognitive labour, defined as the ongoing balance of empathy and evidence required when navigating conversations about misinformation. Nurses are well positioned to counter health misinformation due to their accessibility, professional trust, and communication expertise. However, to respond effectively and confidently, they require organisational support, robust policy frameworks, and targeted education in communication skills, digital professionalism, and critical appraisal. Strengthening these supports will enable nurses to fulfil their potential as leaders in addressing misinformation and promoting informed health decision making.

Source: Teaching and learning in nursing

DOI: 10.1016/j.teln.2026.01.008

Authors: Michelle Stubbs, Kim van Wissen, Denise Blanchard, Julie Reis

Institutions: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle Australia, Victoria University of Wellington, La Trobe University

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,700