PURPOSE OF THE ICN APN GUIDELINES

The purpose of these guidelines is to facilitate a common understanding of Advanced Practice Nursing and the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) for the public, governments, healthcare professionals, policy makers, educators and the nursing profession. It is envisioned that the work will support these stakeholders to develop policies, frameworks and strategies supportive of an Advanced Practice Nursing initiative. Those countries that have implemented the APN role can review their current state of Advanced Practice Nursing against these recommended guidelines. This will support consistency and clarity of Advanced Practice Nursing internationally and enable further development of APN roles

Abstract

In order to meet changing global population needs and consumer expectations, healthcare systems worldwide are under transformation and face restructuring. As systems adapt and shift their emphasis in response to the disparate requests for healthcare services, opportunities emerge for nurses, especially the APN, to meet these demands and unmet needs (Bryant-Lukosius et al. 2017; Carryer et al. 2018; Cassiani & Zug 2014; Cooper & Docherty 2018; Hill et al. 2017; Maier et al. 2017).

In 2002, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) provided an official position on Advanced Practice Nursing to meet the healthcare needs of individuals and communities. This work is also important to the progression of research in this field of nursing both within and across countries.

It is recognised that the identification and context of Advanced Practice Nursing varies in different parts of the world. It is also acknowledged that the profession is dynamic with changes to education, regulation and nursing practice as it seeks to respond to healthcare needs and changes to provision of healthcare services. However, these guidelines provide common principles and practical examples of international best practice.

(ICN 2008a). Since that time, worldwide development has increased significantly and simultaneously this field of nursing has matured. ICN felt that a review of its position was needed to assess the relevance of the definition and characteristics offered in 2002. This guidance paper defines diverse elements such as assumptions and core components of the APN. The attributes and descriptors presented in this paper are intended to promote a common vision to continue to enable a greater understanding by the international nursing and healthcare communities for the development of roles commonly identified as Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Nurse Practitioner (NP).