Advancing Diagnostic Excellence Through Laboratory Nursing: A Review Of Practice Standards, Safety Protocols, And Workforce Development
Published 2024-03-15
Keywords
- Laboratory nursing; Diagnostic excellence; Infection control; Biosafety protocols; Workforce development; Patient safety
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Laboratory nursing plays an increasingly critical role in ensuring diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and effective infection control within modern healthcare systems. Positioned at the intersection of patient care and diagnostic services, laboratory nurses contribute significantly to pre-analytical and post-analytical processes, including specimen collection, handling, documentation, and communication with multidisciplinary teams. Despite their importance, laboratory nursing practice remains underrepresented in research and inconsistently supported by formalized standards, safety frameworks, and structured workforce development programs.
This review aims to synthesize current evidence on laboratory nursing practice standards, safety and infection control protocols, and workforce development strategies, with a focus on their collective contribution to diagnostic excellence. An integrative review methodology was applied, drawing on peer-reviewed literature published between 2016 and 2025 from major scientific databases. Findings indicate that adherence to standardized nursing practices, robust biosafety measures, and continuous professional development significantly reduce diagnostic errors, occupational risks, and healthcare-associated infections. Furthermore, emerging digital tools and laboratory information systems enhance the effectiveness of laboratory nursing roles. Strengthening governance, education, and competency frameworks for laboratory nurses is essential for advancing diagnostic quality and reinforcing healthcare system resilience.