Chapter 2: Advanced Practice Nursing Concept and Roles
Authors:
Virpi Sulosaari, Principal Lecturer,
Aurelija Blaževičienė, Professor
Salla Grommi, Lecturer
Introduction
Shifting demographics and changes in population health have resulted in changes in healthcare (Lee et al., 2020). The nursing profession has evolved to address health, societal and person-centred care challenges (WHO, 2020). Advanced Practice Nursing roles have been recognised as a means of improving access to care and quality of care and potentially decreasing health care costs (Maier et al., 2017). Advanced Nursing Practice refers to a field of nursing that extends and expands the boundaries of the scope of practice of nursing, contributes to nursing knowledge and promotes the advancement of the profession. Moreover, Advanced Practice Nursing refers to advanced nursing interventions that influence clinical healthcare outcomes for individuals, families and diverse populations (WHO, 2020).
Globally, and also in the Nordic and Baltic countries, the development of the role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and their education has been supported by the International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) definition of an APN. According to the International Council of Nurses (2008; 2020) all APNs are practitioners of nursing; provide safe and competent patient care; have their foundation in nursing education; have roles or levels of practice that require formal education beyond the preparation of registered nurses; have roles or levels of practice with increased levels of competency and capability that are measurable, beyond that of a generalist registered nurse; have acquired the ability to explain and apply the theoretical, empirical, ethical, legal, caregiving, and professional development required for Advanced Practice Nursing; have defined APN competencies and standards which are periodically reviewed for maintaining currency in practice, and are influenced by the global, social, political, economic and technological milieu (ICN, 2020). APN roles do not stand apart from nursing. Rather, the nursing core is what distinguishes them from those of non-nursing providers (Tracy & O’Grady, 2019). This chapter gives a brief overview of key Advanced Practice Nursing concepts and roles.