Using NVivoTM as a methodological tool for a literature review on nursing innovation: a step-by-step approach

Purpose This paper describes a step-by-step process on how to conduct a literature review using a qualitative analysis approach in conducting a literature review using NVivo to drive the analysis and explore the state of nursing innovation. Data synthesis This manuscript makes a unique contribution highlighting the importance of a comprehensive literature review following conceptual and methodological guidance. Previous literature on the literature review process usually describes the process quickly and without a specific step by step process. This manuscript describes a six-step process to conduct a literature review using a qualitative analytical program. The researcher selects the scope and establishes a search strategy, determines and applies the criteria for the selection process, selects the qualitative software, imports the data, extracts and codes the data, and analyzes it. Conclusion Qualitative research applications, such as NVivo, support nurses' literature review process by improving rigor and reproducibility. The tools within the applications help better organize the literature, enhance transparency to the analytical process, and provide tools to visualize the data to improve the review's overall quality. Having the steps documented and organized allows better collaboration between various researchers.