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Purpose: To examine the development of advanced nursing practice globally.
Methods: Data were collected from documentary resources available in the International Nurse Practitioners/Advanced Practice Nurse Network (INP/APNN) of the International Council of Nurses. The areas examined were guided by the "key informant survey on advanced nursing practice self-administered questionnaire." Two core members of the INP/APNN who have rich experience in global advanced nursing development analyzed the data. A total of 14 countries and three regions from five continents were included in the analyses. The development of advanced nursing practice in these areas is facilitated by a need for better access to care in a cost-containment era and the enhancement of nursing education to postgraduate level. The mechanism for regulation of practice is in place in some countries.
Conclusions: Confirms the development of advanced practice in nursing is a global trend.
Clinical Relevance: APNs can improve global health with points to enhanced education in nursing and regulation of advanced practice.
[Key words: advanced practice, advanced nursing practice, international health, global health]
JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, 2008; 40:3, 204-211. ©2008 SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL.
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The development of advanced nursing practice has become a global trend in the last few decades. The prevalence of this trend provided the impetus for members of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to launch an International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Network (INP/APNN) in 2000 to facilitate communication among nurses who share the same interest globally. INP/APNN members recognize that, though the evolution of advanced practice nursing differs in each nation, similarities exist. A platform was therefore created to facilitate dialogue among the global nursing community. Specifically, the INP/APNN has five objectives which are: (a) to serve as a forum for exchange of knowledge, (b) To serve as a resource base for the development of advanced practice/nurse practitioner roles and the appropriate educational underpinning, (c) To serve as a vehicle for ICN to harness specialist expertise, (d) to help ICN more effectively meet its mandate as the global voice of the profession, and (e) to provide a mechanism for promoting and disseminating information from any of the network members and ICN (Cross, 2007).
ICN International NP/APN Network (n.d.) defines advanced practice nurses (APNs) as registered nurses who...