The Structure of Nursing Legislation in Iran from the Perspective of Nursing Policymakers: A Qualitative Study

Background In many developing and developed countries, the profession of nursing is directly affected by the country’s legislative structure and associated governance arrangements. Thus, nursing policymakers, practitioners, and educators should understand the way nursing legislation is created and implemented, as well as its impact on the nursing profession. Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the structure of nursing legislation in Iran from the perspective of nursing policymakers. Methods For this qualitative study, a content analysis approach was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with nursing policymakers (N = 15). Additionally, the content of Iranian government websites was used as collected data in the process of data analysis. Result Three main categories emerged from the data: (a) the role of competent authorities, (b) the advancement of the nursing profession, and (c) the emergence of new diseases as an opportunity for developing nursing policy. Conclusion Although the involvement of competent authorities plays a crucial role in structuring Iranian nursing policy, the role of nursing in treating emerging diseases also brings opportunities for nursing policymakers to revise current legislation and develop new practice acts.