Abstract
AIM: The aim of the study was to answer the research question: What is known from the existing literature about the use of design thinking in nursing education and health sciences education?
BACKGROUND: Nursing education should be ready for an enhanced focus on innovation and the potential to influence future practice.
METHOD: Arksey and O'Malley's scoping framework was used to identify and summarize findings from related literature.
RESULTS: Of 16 publications included, seven were nursing focused references. They consisted mostly of opinion pieces recommending future uses of design thinking. Two were examples of undergraduate nursing courses that incorporated design thinking into courses on innovation and research. Nine publications from multidisciplinary, interprofessional, or medical education with potential application to nursing education were included.
CONCLUSION: A broader effort by educational experts is necessary to increase the visibility and applicability of this human-centered problem-solving technique to move innovation forward in nursing education.