Educational Programs for Advanced Practice Nursing in a Global Context: Findings from an International Survey

Thursday, 16 July 2009: 8:50 AM

Joyce A. Pulcini, PhD, RN, FAAN
Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Raisa Gul, RN, MHA
Aga Khan University School of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan
Alice Yuen Loke, PhD
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Monika Jelic, BSN, MSN, CPNP, MPH
Department of Nursing, Temple University, College of Health Professions, Philadelphia, PA

Learning Objective 1: describe and explain similarities and differences of APN programs globally

Learning Objective 2: describe the characteristics of APN programs as determined by a global survey and the implications for APN education.

Purpose: To describe 43 individual advanced practice programs from an international survey on the education, practice and regulatory issues of Nurse Practitioners/Advanced Practice Nurses (NP/APNs).

Methods:

In spring of 2008, a web-based survey was sent to a convenience sample of 174 members of the International Nurse Practitioner/ Advanced Practice Nursing Network (INP/APNN) using survey monkey. Participants were leaders and experts of ANP development in their respective countries.  The survey was based on a 2007 pilot survey with network members and the final survey was refined to reflect cross national cultural, professional and linguistic differences. The survey was completed by 91 members of the INP/APNN from 33 of the 34 countries represented in the Network with a response rate of 52.2%.  Data collected included information on NP/APN practice characteristics, types of educational programs, country or province level regulatory issues, and systems level factors that affect the practice of advanced practice nurses in these countries. Data on individual NP/APN programs in the 33 countries was also collected and compiled by participants who were asked questions about one program that they knew best.

Results:

Forty-three individual programs were described by the participants and data on credential awarded, duration of program including classroom and clinical hours, requirements for enrollment including academic degrees, RN licensure and years of experience, number of students per class, total number of graduates and program funding source

Conclusion:

This survey provides descriptive a wide range of advanced practice programs in 33 countries. This will provide pilot data for a more extensive survey of advanced practice programs internationally.