Collegian
Volume 16, Issue 2 , Pages 55-62, April 2009

Advanced nursing practice: A global perspective

  • Christine Duffield, BScN MHP PhD RN

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Health Services Management, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: University of Technology, Centre for Health Services Management, Office Level 7, 235-235 Jones St, PO Box 123, Broadway (City Campus), Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9514 4831; fax: +61 2 9514 4835.
    • ,
  • Glenn Gardner, RN, BappSc (Adv Nursg), MEdSt, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Queensland University of Technology and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Australia
    • ,
  • Anne M. Chang, RN, DipNEd, BEdST (Hons) MEdSt, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Queensland University of Technology and Queensland Centre for Evidence Based Nursing & Midwifery, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia
    • ,
  • Christine Catling-Paull, MSc RN RM

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Health Services Management, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

Received 13 January 2009; accepted 9 February 2009. published online 27 April 2009.

Summary 

Aim

To review the titles, roles and scope of practice of Advanced Practice Nurses internationally.

Background

There is a worldwide shortage of nurses but there is also an increased demand for nurses with enhanced skills who can manage a more diverse, complex and acutely ill patient population than ever before. As a result, a variety of nurses in advanced practice positions has evolved around the world. The differences in nomenclature have led to confusion over the roles, scope of practice and professional boundaries of nurses in an international context.

Method

CINAHL, Medline, and the Cochrane database of Systematic Reviews were searched from 1987 to 2008. Information was also obtained through government health and professional organisation websites. All information in the literature regarding current and past status, and nomenclature of advanced practice nursing was considered relevant.

Findings

There are many names for Advanced Practice Nurses, and although many of these roles are similar in their function, they can often have different titles.

Conclusion

Advanced Practice Nurses are critical for the future, provide cost-effective care and are highly regarded by patients/clients. They will be a constant and permanent feature of future health care provision. However, clarification regarding their classification and regulation is necessary in some countries.

Keywords: Advanced practice, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical nurse specialist, Nurse roles, Work organisation, Literature review

 

PII: S1322-7696(09)00019-5

doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2009.02.001

Collegian
Volume 16, Issue 2 , Pages 55-62, April 2009

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