Research synthesis methods can generate or test nursing theories. Integrative review is a research synthesis method widely used in nursing. The purpose of this discussion is to explore how the integrative review can be used as a scientific research method to generate or to test nursing theories. Ways to conduct integrative reviews to generate and to test nursing theories were explored. Integrative review could be an interesting way to bridge the gap between nursing theories and nursing research and practice.
Keywords: nursing theory; research design; review literature as topic.