Nursing in the Medical Tourism Industry: A Narrative Review

Nowadays, medical tourism as a branch of tourism, with its key role in improving the economies of countries, has attracted the attention of researchers. This article aims to investigate the role of the nurse as a key member of the treatment team in this industry.

In this review article, first 200 English and Persian articles using searches in valid databases, PubMed Scientific Information Database (SID) and Scopus, Web of Science and Keywords (Nursing and Nursing, Medical Tourism, Nursing Role), Were identified between 2004 and 2018 with no study-type restrictions. By reviewing the articles and reviewing them further, 41 articles appropriate to the subject and purpose of the study were used to evaluate and compare the purpose of the study.

Nurses' attitudes, nurse coordination with the treatment team, nursing care in a timely manner, explanation of procedures, respect for patient privacy and the ability to perform specialized tasks are listed as significant and influential factors in the growth of medical tourism industry.

The results indicate that despite the importance of the role of the nurse in the treatment team, this issue has not been investigated. Managers and researchers' attention to the nurse's position in the tourism industry will improve the health, treatment and thus economic growth.