Role
In Spain, there has been an ongoing increase in both interest and practice of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs, Cantón-Rodríguez, 2024; Sevilla Guerrera, 2018). This includes significant collaborative efforts among healthcare institutions, universities, publication of evidence to support and understand the current and prospective role, and regional support (Cantón-Rodríguez et al., 2024). The role however has been met with significant challenges that has prevented national consistency in the role’s implementation, including lack of legislative support, institutional role development, and peer support (Cantón-Rodríguez et al., 2024; Hämel et al., 2020; Sánchez-Gómez et al., 2019).
Education
Nursing currently requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing consistent with EU standards for the same role. As the APN role is not formally acknowledged on a national level, consensus supports both the EU standard as well as ICN definition in that any APN role would require a Masters degree in Nursing (Sánchez-Gómez et al., 2019).
Specialties
With the lack of generalized APN role, there is not any formal nationally recognized specializations for APNs in Spain. However, various roles have been created to promote components of a more advanced role for nurses which would meet the ICN’s definition of a Master’s Degree prepared APN for at least the last seven years (Cantón-Rodríguez et al., 2024; Sánchez-Gómez et al., 2019). Historically, Spain has incorporated APNs in specialized roles in various capacities throughout Spain including urgent care, primarily focusing on chronic disease, incorporating diabetology, stomatherapy, oncology, palliative care, chronic wounds, and case management (Cantón-Rodríguez et al., 2024).
References:
Cantón-Rodríguez, Y., Ibáñez-Masero, O., García-Navarro, E.B., Ortega Galán, Á.M., Ventura-Miranda, M.I., & Ruiz-Fernández, M.D. (2024). Professional experiences of Spanish advanced practice nurses: qualitative research. BMC Nursing, 23(439). doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02105-6
Hämel, K., Rosana, B., Casanova, A., & Giovanella, L. (2020). Advanced practice nursing in primary health care in the Spanish national health system. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 25(1)303-314. doi:10.1590/1413-81232020251.28332019
Sánchez-Gómez, M.B., Ramos-Santana, S., Gómez-Salgado, J., Sánchez-Nicolás, F., Moreno-Garriga, C., & Duarte-Clíments, G. (2019). Benefits of advanced practice nursing for its expansión in the Spanish context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16(680). doi:10.3390/ijerph1605680
Sevilla Guerra, S. (2018). The implementation of advanced practice nursing in Catalonia. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Barcelona] Retrieved from: https://www.tesisenred.net/bitstream/handle/10803/585925/SSG_PhD_THESIS.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
