Background Literature reviews are essential in nursing for integrating research into practice, informing clinical guidelines and shaping health policy. They comprehensively synthesise the available evidence, supporting nurses in making informed decisions that improve patient care. It is therefore crucial when researchers are selecting the method most appropriate for investigating their clinical questions that they understand the different types of literature review.

Aim To explore the characteristics, strengths and limitations of narrative, systematic and scoping reviews, as well as highlight their significance in nursing practice globally.

Discussion Narrative reviews provide broad, flexible overviews of topics; however, they lack methodological rigour, which can potentially result in bias. Systematic reviews provide high-quality, reliable evidence by using a structured approach to synthesising data from multiple studies; this makes them valuable for clinical decision-making and the development of guidelines. Scoping reviews map the scope of research onto emerging topics, identifying gaps and future research priorities, though they do not typically assess the quality of included studies.

Conclusion Literature reviews are vital tools for nurses worldwide. Understanding the differences between types of literature review enables nurses to effectively use the one most appropriate to their needs. This is essential for evidence-based practice, informs clinical and policy decisions, and supports high-quality patient care, as well as contributing to nurses’ professional development.

Implications for practice Nurses who engage with literature reviews can stay informed about the latest research, improve patient outcomes and participate in the advancement of nursing knowledge globally.