Tag Archives: nurse midwife

Advanced Practice Nursing in Australia

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Contact:
Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Role

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role in Australia was established in 1990 and the Nurse practitioner Role later established in 2000 (Sheer & Wong, 2008; Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care [AGDHAC], 2023).  However, while the title of APN is not legislatively protected, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) title is.  With more than 20 years of role existence Australia has both championed the role of the Nurse Practitioner and continues to have immerging desire to expand the level of integration of the NP within the nation’s healthcare (AGDHAC, 2023; Jennings & Clothier, 2026).

Historically NPs are able to practice at a scope that allows them to both diagnose and prescribe treatments for patients across the spectrum in both acute, primary, and specialty care.  Yet, barriers have remained largely in professional resistance, varying state regulations which also appear to have contributing to slow growth the NP workforce numbers and institutional regulations to allow NPs to practice to their full scope (AGDHAC, 2023; Fong, Buckley, Cashin, & Pont, 2017; Jennings & Clothier, 2026).  While historically in 2010 the NP role required collaborative agreements with that of General Practitioners (Medical licensed individual) as of 2023 this requirement was removed allowing autonomous practice, due to collaborative agreements being a barrier to the access of care (Jennings & Clothier, 2026).  Further in 2023 the AGDHAC (2023) further identified a workforce and established a Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan to help promote access, awareness, and ability for the NP to work at their full scope of practice (AGDHAC, 2023).

Education and Certification

Education required for the Nurse Practitioner role requires a master’s degree in nursing which additionally certifies the passing individual for endorsement for registration.  As a result, registration for the Nurse Practitioner does not require a single certification exam, but rather the educational institution will endorse the individual has passed certain competencies before they will endorse the candidate for registration.  This same curriculum also a minimum of 5000 hours of clinical practice and supervision prior to being able to have prescribing rights (Jennings & Clothier, 2026).

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References:
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care [AGDHAC]. (2023, May). Nurse practitioner workforce plan. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/nurse-practitioner-workforce-plan.pdf

Fong, J., Buckley, T., Cashin, A., & Pont, L. (2017). Nurse practitioner prescribing in Australia: a comprehensive literature review. Australian Critical Care. 30(5)252-259. doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2016.11.003

Jennings, N. & Clothier, V. (2026). Urgent care in Australia- Unblocking nurse practitioner capacity to systemic access issues.  International Emergency Nursing. 85(2026). doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2026.101741

Sheer, B. & Wong, F.K. (2008).  The development of advanced nursing practice globally.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40(3),204-211.

Originally Published 25 Aug 2013; Updated 28 Oct 2026

Advanced Practice Nursing in Cyprus

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Contact:
Cyprus Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council

Role

Cyprus has had an immerging development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role over the most recent few years yet conflicting information in the published literature shows the nation has had an ongoing struggle to implement the role in a standardized manner.  As a result while the role exists legally, it i

Particularly, in 2018, Ladd and Schober identified the role had been created with prescriptive authority and legislation approved, but the process had been stalled at the actual implementation of the role.  In 2022, Unsworth et al. further identified in an EU review that the role had been indeed implemented but did not categorize the role as well established.  Meanwhile, De Raeve et al. (2023) identified the role had yet to be established in the country and ongoing talks were in place as to how the role would be implemented and as a result most nurses trained to the level of the APN do not practice in that capacity or if they do it may be more that of a specialized nurse.

Further in 2024, Unsworth et al. identified the process has largely been stalled between the legislative ratification to the implementation as a part of the evolutionary process that may take 15 to 20 total years of being incorporated.

This all being said, while the actual in practice role of the APN is in question, significant efforts have been ongoing to the point that legislation and key stakeholders have been having ongoing discussions how to integrate the APN into the workforce and this role does include that of prescriptive authority (Ladd & Schober, 2018).

Education

Despite the lack of role integration, the university education has already established master level nursing curriculum. In Cyprus the European University of Cyprus (n.d.) offers master level education in nursing with specializations in community, mental health, and emergency care nursing.

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References:
De Raeve P., M. Davidson, P., Bergs, J., Patch, M., Jack., S.M., Castro-Ayala, A., Xyrichis, A., & Preston, W. (2023). Advanced practice nursing in Europe- results from a pan-European survey of 35 countries. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 00,1-10. doi:10.1111/jan.15775

European University Cyprus. (n.d.). Master in Nursing (MSc). Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://euc.ac.cy/en/programs/master-nursing/

Ladd, E., & Schober, M. (2018). Nurse prescribing from the global vantage point: the intersection between role and policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice. 19(1-2)40-49.  doi: 10.1177/1527154418797726

Unsworth, J., Greene, K., Ali, P., Lillebø, G., & Carmen Mazilu, D. (2022).  Advanced practice nurse roles in Europe: Implementation challenges, progress and lessons learnt. International Nursing Review. 71(2)299-308 doi: 10.1111/inr.12800

Originally published 7 Aug 2013; Updated 23 Oct 2026

Advanced Practice Nursing in Ireland

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Contact: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

Role

Since the development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role in Ireland, the role has greatly increased in popularity and integration into the entire health system in Ireland (Doherty, 2025; Doody, 2025).  The role incorporates full autonomy within the scope of practice and collaboration with the board of nursing and midwifery and generally dependent on the structure of the system they work within which often incorporates diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as clinical leadership and multidisciplinary team collaboration (Doody, 2025; Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI], 2017). 

Education and Certification

The advanced nurse practitioner in Ireland requires a minimum of a master level education (NMBI, n.d.; Doody, 2025).  There are current programs to meet this educational need in Ireland today supported by the NMBI, but additionally there is a pathway for individuals educated outside the Irish education system that allows individuals to become registered within the country including within and outside of the European Union (NMBI, n.d.).

References:
Doherty, B. (2025, March 24). The rise of advanced nursing practice: An Irish success story. Medical Independent. https://www.medicalindependent.ie/in-the-news/news-features/the-rise-of-advanced-nursing-practice-an-irish-success-story/

Doody, O., Graham, M., Hegarty, O., Sloane, A.M., Walsh, P., Synnott, M., Russell, M., Dunworth, T., Sheridan, J., & Murphy, L. (2025).  Identifying the landscape and contribution of the advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review.  International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances.  8(2025).  doi:10.1016/j.jinsa.2025.100304

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI]. (n.d.). ANP/AMP registration pathways. https://www.nmbi.ie/Registration/Add-New-Division/Advanced-Practitioners/Registering-as-ANP-AMP

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI] (2017). Advanced practice (nursing) standards and requirements.  Retrieved from: https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/Advanced-Practice-Nursing-Standards-and-Requirements-2017.pdf?ext=.pdf

[First Published: 15 August 2013; Updated: 29 June 2014 & 13 October, 2026]

Advanced Practice Nursing in the Netherlands

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Contact:
Dutch Ministry of Health
Dutch Nursing Specialist Register
Dutch Professional Nurse Practitioner Organization

Role

The role of Advanced Practice Nurses in the Netherlands is the Nurse Practitioner or “Verpleegkundig (VSR, 2022).  Introduction of this role started in 1997 (Storedur & Leonard, 2010; Van den Brink et al., 2019).  The Clinical Nurse Specialist role in the Netherlands had initially developed as an alternative health provider for general practice physicians based on a general practitioner shortage (Dierick-van Daele, 2010; Stordeur & Leonard, 2010; Zwijnenberg & Bours 2012).  Progressively, the role expanded as the health system responded with generalized acceptance and improvement of cost efficiency and outcomes (Maier, 2019; Van den Brink, 2019; VSR, 2019).  The scope of practice for Dutch Nurse Practitioners primarily includes:

  • Advanced assessment (Dierick-van Daele, 2010)
  • Diagnosing and making decisions for further treatment (Dierick-van Daele, 2010)
  • Full Prescriptive authority within specialization (Maier, 2019)
  • Provision of procedures necessary for medication treatment (Zwinjenberg & Bours, 2012)
  • Referrals to primary or secondary services (Dierick-van Daele, 2010)
  • Autonomous practice without physician supervision (Van den Brink et al., 2019)

As the role has progressively developed, Van den Brink et al. (2019) identified the practice of care in hospital settings and identified

Since the introduction of the Nurse Practitioner role in the Netherlands, studies began showing that the role significantly addressed areas of patient care that were not previously adequately addressed by their physician staff (Stordeur & Leonard, 2010).  While the role is not intended to replace that of physicians, it has been greatly observed as a complimentary role and is pursuing more autonomous roles for Nurse Practitioners to perform patient care in patients homes and management of chronic illnesses (Storeur & Leonard, 2010; Maier, 2019).

Education and Certification

A four-year bachelor degree is necessary to work as a registered nurse in the Netherlands (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007).  The advancement of nursing practice to become a Certified Nurse Specialist requires an individual to receive a 2-year dual Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (MANP) degree (Dierick-van Daele, 2010; Stordeur & Leonard, 2010; VSR 2022).  In the event an advanced practice nurse would like to practice in the Netherlands, there are several nations of the EU including Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, or Lichtensetin in which registration is transferrable (VSR, 2022).  If an individual received their APN training outside of these nations, they will need to first complete the MANP degree, however individuals may qualify for a shortened trajectory based on their previous training (VSR, 2022).

The Dutch have been very proactive in developing a model to facilitate this role development, including having their APN students experience through immersion the Nurse Practitioner role outside their country (Ter Maten & Garcia-Maas, 2010).   Registration for Advanced Practice Nurses in the Netherlands requires individuals to register under a separate registry (the Verpleegugkundig Specialist Register [VSR]) from that of registered nurses, maintained by a division of the Central Information Centre for Professional Practitioners, an branch under the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007; VSR, 2017).

Specialties

Based on the needs of the Dutch health system, there two main specializations: general (or somatic) health and mental health as follows (VSR, 2017).  A link to the Professional Competency Framework can be found here.

The curriculum for further specialization (i.e. cardiology, primary care) is then incorporated within the specific graduate coursework of one of the above specialties (VSR, 2017).

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References:
Delamaire, M. & Lafortune, G. (2010). Nurses in advanced roles: A description and evaluation of experiences in 12 developed countries.  OECD Health Working Papers, 54, OECD Publishing.http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kmbrcfms5g7-en

Dierick-van Daele, A. (2010).  The Introduction of the Nurse Practitioner in General Practice [electronic publication].  Schering-Plough.  Retrieved from: http://arno.unimaas.nl/show.cgi?fid=20140

Maier, M.B. (2019). Nurse prescribing of medicines in 13 European countries.  Human Resources for Health. 95(2019), doi:10.1186/s12960-019-0429-6

Pulcini, J., Jelic, M., Gul, R, Loke, A.Y. (2009).  An international survey on advanced practice nursing, education, practice, and regulation.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(1),31-39.  doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01322.x

Robinson, S. & Griffiths, P. (2007).  Nursing education and regulation: International profiles and perspectives [online publication].  Retrieved from:http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/348772/1/NurseEduProfiles.pdf

Sheer, B. & Wong, F.K. (2008).  The development of advanced nursing practice globally.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40(3),204-211.

Stordeur, S. & Leonard, C. (2010).  Challenges in physician supply planning: The case of Belgium.  Human Resources for Health, 8(28),1-11.  doi:10.1186/1478-4491-8-28

Ter Maten, A. & Garcia-Maas, L. (2010).  Dutch advanced nursing practice students: Role development through international short-term immersion.  Journal of Nursing Education, 48(4), 226-231.

Van den Brink, G.T.W.J., Kouwen, A.J., Hooker, R.S., Vermeulen, H. & Laurant, M.G.H. (2019). An activity analysis of Dutch hospital-based physician assistants and nurse practitioners.  Human Resources for Health.  78(2019).  doi:10.1186/s12960-019-0423-z

Verpleegkundig Specialisten Register [VSR] (2017). More information (in English) about the profession of the certified nurse specialist: The nurse practitioner in the Netherlands.  Retrieved from: https://www.venvn.nl/media/zvofiilk/additional-information-about-the-certified-nurse-specialist.pdf  

Verpleegkundig Specialist Register [VSR] (2022). Foreign graduates: The nurse practitioner in the Netherlands [webpage]. Retrieved June 28, 2022 from: https://www-venvn-nl.translate.goog/registers/verpleegkundig-specialisten-register/registratie/buitenslands-gediplomeerden/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Zwijnenberg, N.C. & Bours, G.J. (2012).  Nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Dutch hospitals: their role, extent of substitution and facilitators and barriers experienced in the reallocation of tasks.  Journal of  Advanced Nursing, 68(6),1235-1246.  doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05823.x

[Initially published 16 Aug 2013; revised 1 Jul 2022, revised 9 Jun 2024]

Advanced Practice Nursing in Kenya

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Contact:
Aga Khan University – School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa
Kenyan Nurses Association

Role

The role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Kenya is in development(Rasul, 2020; Sahib et al., 2020).  They role has yet to be developed and has met significant pushback in the past to attempt to advance nursing practice (East et al, 2014).  

Some of the greatest barriers identified include: lack of advanced nursing role regulation, lack of regional benchmark, medical profession (Dela Christmals, Crous, & Armstrong, 2019; East et al, 2014).  Meanwhile, significant healthcare gaps, particularly throughout rural parts of Kenya along with nurses making up the majority of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) drives the advancement of nursing practice to promote Kenya’s health disparities (Dela Christmals, Crous, & Armstrong, 2019).  

While the role has not been yet developed, Kenya has made significant strides to facilitate the process to advance nursing practice.   In November 2020, the Aga Khan University in Pakistan, hosted a conference to promote the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Pakistan and West Africa, and during that conference Rasul (2020, November) reported expanded masters level education programs for Advanced Practice Nurses in Kenya and reported a midwifery program would be developed by 2021.  

Most recently, the Aga Khan University posted on May 6, 2022 that the Kenyan government approved the nursing and midwifery policy facilitated by the AKU demonstrating the imminent implementation of a formal APN role in Kenya and SSA.

Specialization

Meanwhile, Kirigia (2020) presented that the Child Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum has been nearly implemented.  This would establish the first formal initiative to provide quality graduate-level education advanced nursing practice role in the country and SSA.  The focus of the CHNP focus was determined by the majority population of SSA and being regarded as the most vulnerable to disease burden (Dela Christmals, Crous, & Armstrong, 2019).

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References:
Aga Khan University. (May 6, 2022). Government approves nursing and midwifery policy conveniened by AKU.  Retrieved July 9, 2022 from: https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Details.aspx?nid=NEWS-002763

Dela Christmals, C. & Armstrong, S.J. (2019). The essence, opportunities and threats to advanced practice nursing in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Heliyon. 5(2019). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02531

Dela Christmals, C., Crous, L., & Armstrong, S.J. (2019). The development of concepts for a concept-based advanced practice nursing (Child health nurse practitioner) curriculum for Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Caring Sciences. 12(3)1410. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035580

East, L.A., Arudo, J., Loefler, M., & Evans, C. (2014). Exploring the potential for advanced nursing practice role development in Kenya: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing. 13(33). doi:10.1186/s12912-014-0033-y

Kirigia, C. (2020). Impact of advanced practice nurses and midwives on patients’ outcomes: A systematic review. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. 10(6). doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.1246230.v1

Rasul, F. (2020, November). President’s Address. Shaping the future: Introducing advanced practice nursing in Pakistan and East Africa.  Aga Khan University, Pakistan.  Retrieved May 22, 2022 from: https://www.aku.edu/events/apn/Pages/home.aspx

Sahib, S., Ndirangu, E., Pallangyo, E., Mbuthia, G., & Kimani, R. (2020). Introduction of an advanced practice nurse program in Kenya: A new era in nursing education.  In Sigma’s VIRTUAL 31st International Nursing Research Congress. Retrieved July 9, 2022 from: https://sigma.nursingrepository.org/bitstream/handle/10755/21045/Shaibu_Poster.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Advanced Practice Nursing in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)

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Contact:
Nursing & Midwifery Council
Royal College of Nursing

Country Specific Resource Links:
Advanced Practice Toolkit – repository for UK specific resources for practice

Role

The role of Advanced Practice Nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) is primarily represented as Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs; RCN, 2012).  While the title of ANP is used by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), there had been inconsistencies among the general public as to the term to call ANPs in the country, and various are used as: advanced clinical practice (ACP) nurse, nurse practitioner, registered nurse practitioner, clinical nurse practitioner, senior nurse practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, and association nurse practitioner (Morgan, 2010; RCGP, 2020).

The ANP role was first introduced in the UK with the initiation of a Nurse Practitioner program focusing on primary health care at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in 1991-1992 (NP/APN Network, 2020; Sheer & Wong, 2008).  Much of the push for development of this role was to ease the overbearing workload of the general practitioners (primary care physicians) in the country, and this largely continues to drive the need for this role (NP/APN Network, 2020; Pulcini, Jelic, Gul, & Loke, 2009).  Delamaire and Lafortune (2010), further identified that improving the quality of care additionally drives role development in the UK.

While the role has been continually developed and internationally is considered at a more advanced stage of APN advancement, the role is not formally regulated which greatly prevents further advancement and maintains inconsistencies in both educational and professional standards (Evans et al., 2020; NP/APN Network, 2020).

Currently ANPs in the UK have both prescriptive authority and work autonomously, two role qualities that have demonstrate significant advancement of the advanced practice nurse role (RCN, 2013; RCN, 2022).  Because of the origination in primary care, the ANP role in the UK is to perform the same care as a general practitioner (Morgan, 2010).  Additionally, the role has progressively been integrated and widely embraced in the UK health system (Evans et al., 2020).

Outside of the ANP role in the UK, there are various specializations offered for general nurses allowing them to become a level 2 nurse, which is a role that is registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK (NMC, 2013).  While these roles do require additional education, they are not the same as the ANP role described above.

There is a role of the midwife in the UK regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board.  This role is unique in that all midwives have a supervisor midwife to provide a check in quality of care, reflecting a role and regulatory structure existing since 1902 (NMC, 2010).

Education and Certification

Education for the Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the UK has been occurring at the masters level for more than 20 years and the majority of ANPs in the UK possess a graduate degree (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010; RCN, 2022; Savrin, 2009).   While the recommended standard for advanced nurse practitioners in the UK is set by the recommendations by the Royal College of Nursing, it is not required that all educational programs in the country follow these recommendations, and consequentially the role varies according to health institution’s policies (Evans et al., 2020; King, Tod, & Sanders, 2017; Morgan, 2010).

Registration as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the UK is required as a nurse, and there is not a separate registry outside of that of the general nursing registry (RCN, 2022b).  Licensure of nursing is accepted from other nations as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, provided an individual can follow the required process to do so (RCN, 2022b).

To help with APN role standardization, as of 2017 the RCN proposed a national certification to provide regulation for the standard scope of practice.  While the momentum to provide such standardization has been growing over the years, inconsistency in advanced nursing education continues to beleaguer role continuity (Evans et al., 2020; King, Tod, & Sanders, 2017; NP/APN Network, 2020).

Specialties

The role of the ANP in the UK was greatly focused on primary health care (Pulcini et al., 2009).

For registered nurse specialists, there are currently various specialties that level 1 nurses can specialize in (RCN, 2013):

  • Registered specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN) qualification in
    • Family
    • Health visitor
    • Occupational health
    • Non-specific
    • School nurse
  • Specialist Practice Qualification
    • Adult nursing
    • Children’s nursing
    • Community children’s nursing
    • Mental health nursing
    • District nursing
    • General practice nursing
    • Learning disability nurse
    • Mental health

While these are the registration qualifications recognized by the NMC in the UK, nurses can have a specialization in a specific subject of nursing (i.e. epilepsy, Parkinson’s, cancer).

Have information to add to this page?

References:
Delamaire, M. & Lafortune, G. (2010). Nurses in advanced roles: A description and evaluation of experiences in 12 developed countries.  OECD Health Working Papers, 54, OECD Publishing.http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kmbrcfms5g7-en

Evans, C., Pearce, R., Greaves, S., & Blake, H. (2020). Advanced clinical practitioners in primary care in the UK: A qualitative study of workforce transformation.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(4500), doi:103390/ijerph17124500

King, R., Tod, A., & Sanders, T. (2017). Development and regulation of advanced nurse practitioners in the UK and internationally. Nursing Standard, 32(14). pp.43-50.  doi: 10.7748/ns.2017.e10858

Morgan, S. (2010, July 9).  What are the differences in nurse practitioner training and scope of practice in the US and UK?  NursingTimes.net.  Retrieved from: http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/district-and-community-nursing/what-are-the-differences-in-nurse-practitioner-training-and-scope-of-practice-in-the-us-and-uk/5017012.article

NP / APN Network (2020). Guidelines on advanced practice nursing 2020 [online publication].   International Council of Nurses. Geneva, Switzerland.

Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] (n.d.).  Registering as a nurse or midwife in the United Kingdom: For applicants outside the European Economic Area [online document].  Retrieved from: http://www.nmc-uk.org/Documents/Registration/Registering%20as%20a%20nurse%20or%20midwife%20from%20outside%20EU%20or%20EEA.pdf

Pulcini, J., Jelic, M., Gul, R, Loke, A.Y. (2009).  An international survey on advanced practice nursing, education, practice, and regulation.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(1),31-39.  doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01322.x

Robinson, S. & Griffiths, P. (2007).  Nursing education and regulation: International profiles and perspectives [online publication].  Retrieved from:http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/348772/1/NurseEduProfiles.pdf

Royal College of General Practitioners [RCGP] (2020). Core capabilities framework for advanced clinical practice (nurses) working in general practice / primary care in England [online book]. Health Education England, NHS. England.

Royal College of Nursing [RCN] (2012).  Advanced nurse practitioners: An RCN guide to advanced nursing practice, advanced nurse practitioners and programme accreditation [electronic document].  Retrieved from: http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/146478/003207.pdf

Royal College of Nursing [RCN] (2013).  RCN Factsheet: Specialist nursing in the UK.  Retrieved from: http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/501921/4.13_RCN_Factsheet_on_Specialist_nursing_in_UK_-_2013.pdf

Royal College of Nursing [RCN] (2022a). Advanced practice standards. Retrieved June 19, 2022 from: https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/Advanced-Practice-Standards

Royal College of Nursing [RCN] (2022b). Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK. Retrieved June 19, 2022 from: https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-uk/

Savrin, C. (2009). Growth and development of the nurse practitioner role around the globe.  Journal of Pediatric Health Care 23, (5),310-314.

Sheer, B. (2007).  Nurse practitioners on the move: The journey to the United States.  Topics In Advanced Nursing eJournal. 7(2).  Retrieved from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/560673

Sheer, B. & Wong, F.K. (2008).  The development of advanced nursing practice globally.  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40(3),204-211.

[Originally Published October 7, 2013. Updated June 19, 2022]

Advanced Practice Nursing in Pakistan

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Contact:
Aga Khan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Pakistan Nursing Council

Role

The role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Pakistan is in development. The role has not been formally developed, however based on the interest to increase health care access to individuals in rural areas.  In November 2020, the Aga Khan University in Pakistan hosted a conference to promote the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Pakistan, and during that conference Rasul (2020, November) reported expanded roles for registered nurses to include specializations of neonatology, critical care, and pediatrics with mental health and pediatrics in the future.  Further, Rasul (2020, November) reported the offering of the expanded specializations would be “to prepare graduates to work as APNs once an official scope of practice has been created.”

Most recently, the Aga Khan University (2022, May 19) has announced their first pilot APN program endorsed by the Pakistan Nursing Council that officially will introduce the APN role to the country.  While the legal infrastructure isn’t in place as of yet, this is another major step toward developing the role.

Have information to add to this page?

References:

Aga Khan University (2022, May 19). AKU to launch first advanced practice nursing training in Pakistan.  Retrieved May 22, 2022 from: https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Details.aspx?nid=NEWS-002769

Rasul, F. (2020, November). President’s Address. Shaping the future: Introducing advanced practice nursing in Pakistan and East Africa.  Aga Khan University, Pakistan.  Retrieved May 22, 2022 from: https://www.aku.edu/events/apn/Pages/home.aspx

Advanced Practice Nursing in Finland

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*Finland will allow transferral of RN licensure from various parts of the EU (FNA)
Not able to find information regarding transferral of advanced practice degrees

Contact:
Finnish Nurses Association
Terveydenhuollon Oikeusturvakeskus (National Authority for Medico-Legal Affairs)

Role

The role of the Advanced Practice Nurse has developed over the years in Finland.  The initial discussions of advancing nursing practice in Finland started in the 1980’s (FNA, 2018).  Over time the advanced practice nursing role grew to two chief roles, that of the Advanced Nurse and Public Health Nurse, both of which were prepared with graduated level schooling (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010).

Starting in 2001, the first Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) started practicing at the Helsinki University Hospital (FNA, 2018, p.29).  Since then the CNS role has grown significantly.  Meanwhile need to improve access for health care services for an aging population has promoted the advancement of the Nurse Practitioner role (NP / APN Network, 2017).

Meanwhile, Delamaire and Lafortune (2010), reported that Finland was of the top nations with the highest number of nurses per 1000 people in the country at 15.5; thus indicating a surplus of nurses.  Meanwhile, they indicated that Finland held a mildly below average ratio of doctors per capita (2.7 to 1000 people; European average was 2.8) (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010).  As a result, Finland presents itself as good place to further develop the Advanced Practice Nursing role, with a higher ratio of nurses and a lower number of doctors per capita, similar to that of the United States and United Kingdom (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010).

Specialties and Education

APNs have been working in various roles including rural healthcare, general practice, and acute care (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010, FNA, 2018).  As described above, the roles of CNS and Nurse Practitioner are prevalent, but in addition to these registered nurses in Finland have the choice of specializing in various categories nearing graduation of nursing school in acute care, geriatric care, mental health, multi-cultural, pediatrics, palliative care and youth and adolescent care (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007, NP / APN Network, 2017).  Additionally, an individual can choose to be a nurse midwife with an additional year of schooling (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007).

Education for Advanced Practice Nurses in Finland produced it’s first graduates in 2006 (DeGeest et al., 2008; Fagerström & Glasberg, 2011).  Education for the registered nurse is comparable to various other EU nations, usually requires a bachelor degree typically taking 3.5 years, and 4 years for the public health nurse (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007; FNA, 2018).  The advanced degrees are available afterward to those who desire further advancement in scope of practice at the graduate level (Delamaire & Lafortune, 2010).  Registration for healthcare individuals within Finland is maintained by the National Authority for Medico-Legal Affairs (Terveydenhuollon Oikeusturvakeskus).

According to the Finnish Nurses Association (2018) the most developed roles of AP Ns in Finland are the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner.  Both roles are described as, “At the advanced level, independent clinical nursing and health promotion as well as the related ethical decision-making, teaching and instruction, consultation, evidence-based practices, management, cooperation, research, and development” (p.32).  In addition to this the roles are more clearly differentiated below:

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
    • The role has been in existence since 2001 in Finland (FNA, 2018, p.29).
    • CNSs are employed in various parts of the hospital systems in Finland, more predominantly at the university hospitals (FNA, 2018, p.29).
    • The role has four spheres: patient care, nursing organization, and scholarship.  Any of the CNS roles require a master’s level degree (NP / APN Network, 2017).
    • “Broad-based work aimed to ensure and develop the quality of nursing, foster the implementation of evidence-based nursing and support the organization’s strategic work.” (FNA, 2018, p.32)
  • Nurse Practitioner
    • The FNA (2018) identifies the Nurse Practitioner role as one that more specifically is, “Broad-based and comprehensive nursing, independent examination of patients and assessments of their need for care as well as starting treatment based on symptoms and monitoring both acute and chronic health conditions.” (p.32)
    • The role requires a master’s degree and primarily performed by APNs working in primary care.  Individuals can additionally pursue an academic post graduate degree (doctorate) (FNA, 2018, p.32).
    • The role is not nationally regulated, and as a result it varies according to organizational oversight.

Other roles identified NP / APN Network (2017) are:

  • Specialized Nurses in Clinical Practice
    • Roles largely reflect specialization in a specific area of concentration.  This requires 30-60 ETCS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) and provides advanced professional roles in the selected specialization (NP / APN Network, 2017).
    • The expanded roles are not regulated, and rather institution specific (NP / APN Network, 2017).
  • Nurse Prescriber
    • A role designated for limited prescribing of medications.  This is performed with physician oversight and requires 45 ECTS post graduate training in order to be able to have this permission (FNA, 2018, p.33).
    • According to the NP / APN Network (2017), most APNs in Finland do not have prescribing authority.

Have information to add to this page?

References and Influential Articles:
De Geest, S., Moons, P., Callens, B., Gut., C., Lindpainter, L., & Sprig, R. (2008).  Introducting advanced practice nurses/nurse practitioners in health care systems: A framework for reflection and analysis.  Swiss Med Weekly, 138(43-44),621-628.

Delamaire, M. & Lafortune, G. (2010). Nurses in advanced roles: A description and evaluation of experiences in 12 developed countries.  OECD Health Working Papers, 54, OECD Publishing.http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5kmbrcfms5g7-en

Fagerström, L. & Glasberg, A.L. (2011).  The first evaluation of the advanced practice nurse role in Finland – The perspective of nurse leaders.  Journal of Nursing Management, 19, 925-932.  doi:10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01280.x

Finnish Nurses Association [FNA] (2018). New roles for nurses – Quality to future social welfare and health care services.  Retrieved May 17, 2022 from: https://1553422.169.directo.fi/@Bin/e02495795f0c2e137dc85385beb70747/1652808570/application/pdf/256215/APN_RAPORTTI_ENG_VALMIS_pieni.pdf

HAI Europe (2012). The next chapter in promotion of healthcare professionals: Nurse prescribers [fact sheet]. Retrieved from: http://haieurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/27-July-2011-HAI-Europe-Nurse-Prescribers-Factsheet.pdf

Jokiniemi K. (2014). Clinical Nurse Specialist Role in Finnish Health Care. Dissertations in Health Science. U niversity of Eastern Finland. Available in: http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_isbn_978‐952‐61‐1579‐ 5/urn_isbn_978‐952‐61‐1579‐5.pdf

NP / APN Network (2017). Country specific practice profiles. Retrieved May 16, 2022 from: https://international.aanp.org/Practice/Profiles

Robinson, S. & Griffiths, P. (2007).  Nursing education and regulation: International profiles and perspectives [online publication].  Retrieved from: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/348772/1/NurseEduProfiles.pdf

Tynkkynen, L.K. (n.d.). Limited right for nurses to prescribe medication.  Health Policy Monitor.  Retrieved from: http://www.hpm.org/en/Surveys/THL_-_Finland/15/Limited_right_for_nurses_to_prescribe_medication.html

[ORIGINALLY POSTED SEPTEMBER 24, 2013.  UPDATED MAY 17, 2022]

Advanced Practice Nursing in Italy

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Snapshot

APN Role Exists in Country Today:
Yes

Title:
Infermiere Specialista (Nurse Specialist)

Nationally Certified:
No

Recognize Foreign Licensure:
Yes

Treatment Authority:
To Be Determined (TBD)

Prescribing Authority:
TBD

Practice Autonomously:
TBD

Contact:
Federazione Nazionale Collegi Infermeri (IPASVI)

Role

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role is currently under development in Italy, and has been so for several years (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015; Robinson & Griffiths, 2007).  Legislation in 2006 (Legge 43/2006) created national regulation establishing the title of a Nurse Specialist and the educational requirements for this role, but the implementation of the role has yet to be seen (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015; IPASVI, 2014).  As a result, there is no legal separation between the scope of practice of a registered nurse and nurse Specialist (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015).  Current legislation has focused on furthering the APN role and hopes to differentiate this role most recently reside on Legge 190/2014, a new law recognizing the role in an APN capacity (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015; IPASVI, 2014).  While significant legislature has taken place to provide a strong foundation of the role of the Nurse Specialist, the complicated sentiments of resistance to advance the role of the nurse is because of a combination of financial compensation, surplus of physicians, and resistance to relinquish power (OECD, 2012; Rossi, 2015).  As this role has recently progressed, hopefully the near future will help determine to what extent the APN role will exist.

As the current role of the Nurse Specialist is indistinguishable from the role of the regular nurse, it is important to consider the current role of nursing in Italy.  Currently, every nurse is able to “perform any kind of technique and task according to his experience and curricula” (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015); this excludes prescription and medical diagnosis.  As a result, examples  of this role liberality is that some nurses are able to perform ET intubation, manual defibrillation, and implant PICC lines, all invasive procedures often limited to the scope of practice by physicians in many countries (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015).

Education and Certification

Currently, the role of a Nurse Specialist requires a masters degree, achieved by completing 60 ECTS (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015).

The nursing education system further offers master degrees in nursing for educators and individuals in director positions in healthcare (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007).  Additionally, some doctoral degrees are also being pursued, taught and supervised by the medical schools in the country (Robinson & Griffiths, 2007).   There is currently no certification or registration for Advanced Practice Nursing in the country.

Specialties

Registered nurses can seek additional training in specialization.  The categories offered today are (Barbero, F., Personal Communication, March 2, 2015):

  • Critical Care
  • Family Nursing
  • Mental Health
  • Geriatric Nursing
  • Pediatric Nursing

Have information to add to this page?

References:
IPASVI. (2014). Gennaio 2015: arrivano gli infermieri “specialisti.” Retrieved from: http://www.ipasvi.it/attualita

OECD (2012). Health At a Glance: Europe 2012 (2nd ed.).  OECD Publishing.  doi: 10.1787/9789264183896-en

Robinson, S. & Griffiths, P. (2007).  Nursing education and regulation: International profiles and perspectives [online publication].  Retrieved from: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/348772/1/NurseEduProfiles.pdf

Rossi, R.C. (2015, January 9).  Competenze di medici e infermieri, l’«errore» della legge di Stabilità.  Retrieved from: http://www.sanita.ilsole24ore.com

[Updated: Mar 3, 2015]

Advanced Practice Nursing in Denmark

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Snapshot

APN Role Exists in Country Today:
Yes

Title:
Specialist Nurse

Nationally Certified:
Uncertain

Recognize Foreign Licensure:
Yes

Treatment Authority:
Uncertain

Prescribing Authority:
Uncertain

Practice Autonomously:
No

Contact:
Danish Health and Medicines Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen)
Danish Nurses’ Organiation [DNO] (Dansk Sygeplejeråd)

Role

The role of Advanced Practice Nurses in Denmark has been in development.  Common interests as a part of the European Union have led Denmark to explore the potential use of further Advanced Practice Nursing (Danish Nurses’ Organization, 2008; Pill, Kolbæk, Ottman, & Rasmussen, 2012).  This development however has not been perceived as a substitution for medical doctors (Pill et al., 2012).  Meanwhile, in Denmark there has been an abundance of nurses in the country, leading the European Union and amounting to more than 15 per 1,000 individuals in the population, and with a ration of 4 nurses for every doctor in country (OECD Library, 2012).

Several nursing specialties have been offered for direct practice registered nurses, anesthesia nursing, psychiatric nursing, intensive care nursing, and infection control nursing (European Commission [EC], 2000).  Each allows for more skillful knowledge and potential advanced scope of practice in their respective categories.  Additionally, three other specializations exist for nursing, nursing management and leadership, nursing education, and public health nursing (EC, 2000).  For all specialties except the public health nursing, there is no protected title provided by the national ministry of health (European Commission, 2000).  For public health nursing, the title “health visitor” has been reserved (EC, 2000).

Education and Certification

Education for entry level nursing in Denmark is at the Bachelor’s level.  Specialties are provided by and maintained at the county or regional level (EC, 2000).  Once received permissions by a specific region to practice as a specialty nurse, the Danish nurse may then practice within that specialty in any of the regions of the country, according to the regions’ regulations (EC, 2000).  Each of the programs vary in the length of their post-baccalaureate program as follows (with their received title/degree in parenthesis):

  • Anesthesia Nursing (Proof of specialty training) – 1 1/2 years
  • Psychiatry Nursing (Proof of specialty training) – 1 year
  • Infection Control Nursing (Proof of specialty training) – 3 months
  • Intensive Care Nursing (Proof of specialty training) – 1 1/2 years
  • Public Health Nursing (Nursing Diploma) – 10 months
  • Nursing Management and Leadership (Nursing Diploma) – 10 months
  • Nursing Education (Nursing Diploma) – 10 months

Masters level education is available for nurses interested in advancing their career particularly in nursing education, public health, and nursing management and leadership requiring 2 years and 6 months of training (Aarhus School of Advanced Nursing Studies, 2014; EC, 2000).

Foreign citizens are allowed to apply and participate in the Masters level studies provided they are able to pass a Danish proficiency exam and have received an acceptable Bachelors degree (UASANS, 2014).  Individuals interested in working within one of the specialized nursing categories would be required to be evaluated by the regional councils overseeing each (EC, 2000).  As an international working within Denmark, their specialty-specific permissions would then only be valid for the region from which they received permission (EC, 2000).

Specialties

While an old reference, four areas of specialty have been identified: anesthesia nursing, intensive care nursing, psychiatric nursing, and infection control nursing (EC, 2000).  For each of the specialties in intensive care, anesthesia, and psychiatry training is organized at the county level and therefore varies within the country (EC, 2000).

Beyond that of direct practice nursing specialties, the other three nursing specialties of public health nursing, psychiatric nursing, and nursing management and leadership has been offered at the University of Aarhus School of Advanced Nursing Studies (UASANS, 2014).  This school also offers a Master’s Degree for advancement of a nursing career.  This degree is suggested to offer career advancement primarily related to the advancement of the latter three non-direct practice specialties (EC, 2000).  The course curriculum allows the student to adapt their education in whichever career path interests them the most (UASANS, 2014).

Have information to add to this page?

References:
Danish Nurses’ Organization (2008).  Advanced nurse practitioners – Improved health care to the chronically ill [Electronic document].  Retrieved from: http://www.dsr.dk/Artikler/Documents/Advanced_Nurse_Practitioners.pdf

European Commission (2000).  Nursing in Denmark [Electronic Document].  Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/docs/nurses/2000-study/nurses_denmark_en.pdf

OECD Library (2012).  Health At A Glance: Europe 2012.  Retrieved from: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/9789264183896-en/03/03/index.html?itemId=/content/chapter/9789264183896-30-en

Pill, K., Kolbæk, R., Ottman, G., & Rasmussen, B. (2012).  The impact of the expanded nursing practice on professional identify in Denmark. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 26(6),329–335.

University of Aarhus School of Advanced Nursing Studies [UASANS] (2014).  Masters degree in nursing – Introduction.  Retrieved from: http://kandidat.au.dk/en/nursing/