Lean methodology use and nurses’ perception in the context of health management: a scoping review

Abstract

Objectives: to identify the use of the Lean methodology by nurses and their perceptions. Methods: scoping review. The data search was conducted in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases between September 2023 and May 2024. Primary and secondary studies, reviews, and randomized trials published in Portuguese, Spanish, or English, available in full with free remote access, with no deadline, were included. Results: of 1,346 studies, 15 were included. The Lean methodology was identified in emergency flows (n=3), service management (n=5), Clinical Inpatient Units (n=3), Surgical Center (n=1), Intensive Care Units (n=1), Oncology (n=1), and Home Care Units (n=1). Conclusions: nurses use the Lean methodology, demonstrating satisfaction in most studies. A negative influence was observed related to the lack of resources for the use of the Lean methodology in nursing processes.