The Future of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Role in Finland

Development of advanced practice nursing core competencies in Saudi Arabia: A modified Delphi study

BACKGROUND

Advanced practice nursing requires a diverse set of competencies that define what advanced practice nurses need to know and be able to do to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality healthcare. Given the lack of evidence regarding core competencies and the evolution of advanced practice nursing roles in Saudi Arabia, it is becoming increasingly important to develop core competencies to standardize educational and clinical training programs.

OBJECTIVE

To define the core competencies of advanced practice nursing in Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

Utilizing a modified Delphi design and snowball sampling technique, data were collected between April and July 2023 using an online questionnaire consisting of 28 core competencies that was developed based on an in-depth literature review and a critical analysis of advanced practice nursing core competencies published by leading professional organizations. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted.

SETTINGS

The study was set in clinical and academic settings in Saudi Arabia.

PARTICIPANTS

Nursing experts with graduate degrees as advanced practice nurses.

RESULTS

In Round 1, 34 advanced practice nursing experts reached full consensus on 24 of the 28 core competencies, and four core competencies reached partial consensus. Based on suggestions and feedback from the experts, the investigators revised ten core competencies to reflect the improvement suggestions and created three new core competencies. A total of 26 core competencies were used in Round 2, which achieved a full consensus among the 34 advanced practice nursing experts, under the following six core competency domains: knowledge of advanced practice nursing, person-centered care, professional improvement, professionalism, communication and interprofessional partnership, and leadership and system-based practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the need for a standardized competency framework, the 26 core competencies proposed in our study have the potential to guide education and training in academic programs and facilitate the implementation of advanced practice nursing in clinical settings.

Actualization of evidence-based nursing in primary, specialized, and social care settings-A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Basing practice on evidence is a widely acknowledged requirement for nursing, but shortcomings still exist. An increased understanding of the actualization of evidence-based nursing (EBN) across different nursing contexts is needed to develop better support for EBN and promote uniform high-quality nursing.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to compare the actualization of EBN in different organizational contexts in Finland.

METHODS

Data for this survey were collected in 2021. The actualization of EBN in primary, specialized, and social care organizations was evaluated with the Actualization of Evidence-Based Nursing instrument, nurses' version, which focuses on individual and organizational-level EBN support structures. Differences between (1) specialized and primary healthcare, and (2) different nursing practice settings were tested with Welch's two sample t-test, the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, and the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

RESULTS

Based on nurse (n = 1020) evaluations, those working in specialized healthcare hold more positive attitudes toward EBN (p = .021) and evaluated their organization's methods for monitoring and evaluating nursing practices (p = .004) more positively than those working in primary healthcare. Regarding different nursing practice settings (n = 1241), the most positive results were observed within preventive healthcare where nurses evaluated their attitudes toward EBN, EBN competence, and personal evidence-based practices more positively compared to other nursing practice settings. The results were parallel regarding several organizational structures for EBN. Positive results were also observed within somatic units at university hospitals, and most negative results were within institutional care settings, health centers, and home care settings.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

There is a need for targeted support to strengthen EBN across different organizational contexts, with special attention to those contexts where nursing professionals with lower education levels work. Future research needs to focus on further analyzing the organizational differences and what can be learned, especially from preventive healthcare but also somatic units at university hospitals.

Role delineation of advanced practice nursing: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

To identify the roles and activities of nurses, including advanced practice nursing (APN), and to determine nursing practice patterns across health facilities in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 207 nurses working in the Saudi health sector between November 2021 and March 2022 through an online questionnaire. The Advanced Practice Role Delineation tool was used to measure and delineate nursing practice patterns and activities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. The study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

Findings showed that participants, regardless of their current role, reported high scores across all domains of practice. The highest average score was obtained for the Clinical Care domain. Except for the leadership domain, findings showed that those reported working as advanced practice nurses had higher average scores across all domains than those working as staff nurses or being in managerial/administrative positions. There were significant differences in the average Clinical Care scores between advanced practice nurses and staff nurses.

CONCLUSION

Advanced practice nursing roles and activities are being practised in Saudi Arabia; however, there is no clear delineation of these roles and activities according to a unified and national-level APN scope of practice.

IMPACTS

Advanced practice nursing roles are evolving in Saudi Arabia; however, no study has examined the existing patterns of APN activities in Saudi Arabia. This study highlights the practice patterns of advanced practice nurses and adds to the international evidence base on the need for delineating APN activities under a unified scope of practice. The findings of this study are beneficial to practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders as well as the legislative and regulatory bodies.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Advanced practice role delineation within Finland: A comparative descriptive study

AIM

To identify and differentiate the practice patterns of generalist, specialist and advanced practice nursing roles in specialist and central hospital contexts.

BACKGROUND

In Finland, as in other Nordic countries, advanced practice nursing roles emerged around 2000. There are over 60,000 registered nurses/midwives in Finland and the clinical career pathway from a registered nurse to advanced practice nurse has been described yet not fully implemented in healthcare organizations. However, the number and activities of nonadvanced and advanced practitioner roles are not well known.

DESIGN

A descriptive comparative study.

METHODS

An online self-report survey was conducted between August and October 2020 using an advanced practice role delineation tool. A census sample of registered nurses, registered midwives, specialist nurses and advanced practice nurses in five university hospitals and one central hospital was recruited. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of participants and group differences were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The STROBE checklist was used as the reporting guideline.

RESULTS

A total of 1497 responses were obtained (response rate = 10%). Overall, nurses used comprehensive care and education activities most frequently. The least used activities were research and publication and professional leadership. Univariate analysis of variance test between role effects, when education and grouped age were taken into account, showed statistically significant difference in all of the observed five activities (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Identifying activities in different levels of nursing is a crucial first step in delineating nursing roles thus improving the governance of the human resource management.

IMPACT

The study results add to the international literature, delineating nursing roles in the spectrum of generalist to advanced practice nursing. As these roles become more formalized, we may incorporate novel ways of promoting the career development and optimal use and assessment of nursing roles and practice in various career levels.

Using the Delphi Method to Construct a Promotion Plan for Clinical Nurse Specialists

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to design a quantitative evaluation of the promotion plan for clinical nurse specialists in China.

DESIGN

The evaluation indexes were selected and established by inquiring 22 experts and using the analytic hierarchy process. The promotion plan was sent to 22 specialized nurses. The reference value was established by comparing the results from predictions made by experts and the self-evaluation of specialized nurses.

METHODS

This study used the Delphi method and mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, which not only determined the entry of the promotion plan but also calculated its weight, and obtained the baseline score through a small range of empirical studies.

RESULTS

This promotion plan included basic promotion conditions, 5 primary indicators, 15 secondary indicators, and 61 tertiary indicators and was designed by experts who had a high degree of authority in this field. The self-evaluation results of 19 specialist nurses showed a reference value of 30 points per 3 years using the promotion plan. For clinical nursing managers, it is a management tool to evaluate specialist nurses, which can provide a basis for the promotion of specialist nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The promotion plan for clinical nurse specialists in China formed by this research is quantifiable, scientific, and instructive.

Progress and challenges for advanced practice nursing in Mexico and the United Kingdom

AIM

The aim of this study is to compare the advanced practice nursing development in Mexico with the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND

In spite of the involvement of global and local bodies to establish and develop advanced practice nursing worldwide, progress remains variable due to the lack of homogeneity in health care systems and policies.

EVALUATION

Using thematic analysis from interviews of 29 health care professionals in Mexico, we identified four major issues that impact on the development of advanced practice nursing: (a) workforce, (b) organizational and institutional, (c) regulatory and legal and (d) academic and educational.

KEY ISSUES

Learning from the UK experience in relation to overcoming some of these issues has been insightful in terms of how advanced practice nursing skills in Mexican nurses can be developed.

CONCLUSIONS

Mexico is still in early stages of the development of APN. Based on the UK experience, the government may have to move forward to support higher level training, create labour market positions, establish new nursing functions, promote task-shifting and particularly implement solid regulation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The development of advanced practice nursing represents important challenges for training and practice of nursing in Mexico and the United Kingdom; therefore, interested actors will have to reach key agreements that could work as the foundations of an assertive planning process.

Core competencies of clinical nurse specialists: A comparison across three Nordic countries

AIM

To describe and compare the clinical nurse specialist core competency use in Finland, Denmark and Iceland.

BACKGROUND

Clinical nurse specialist roles were first developed more than 60 years ago in the United States. Within the Nordic countries, the clinical nurse specialist role emerged around 2000. There is scarcity of clinical nurse specialist competency descriptions outside of North America, and research has been limited to examine or validate established competencies across different countries.

DESIGN

A descriptive correlational study.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted from May to September 2019. A population sample of clinical nurse specialists in Finland, Denmark and Iceland was recruited. A validated self-report questionnaire of clinical nurse specialist competencies was used. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and the STROBE checklist was used as the reporting guideline.

RESULTS

A total sample of 184 clinical nurse specialists, 52 from Finland, 95 from Denmark and 37 from Iceland, participated in the study (response rate = 72%, 35% and 48%, respectively). Overall, clinical nurse specialists utilised the organisational competency most frequently followed by the patient, clinical nursing leadership and scholarship competency. Univariate analysis of variance test between-country effects showed statistically significant difference in patient competency (p = .000) and in organisational competency (p < .05). There were no statistically significant differences between counties in the utilisation of clinical nursing leadership and scholarship competency.

CONCLUSION

A small variability was found in the comparison of the clinical nurse specialist use of core competency in the spheres of patient, nursing, organisation and scholarship within three Nordic countries.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The CNS competency scale may be utilised in benchmarking clinical nurse specialist roles and practice within and across countries. The long-term goal for the competency descriptions is to enhance the clinical nurse specialist role clarity, integration and evaluation as well as inform post-graduate education.

Construct validity of clinical nurse specialist core competency scale: An exploratory factor analysis

AIM

To conduct a construct validity test on a clinical nurse specialist core competency scale.

BACKGROUND

Clinical nurse specialists' competency development dates back to the late 20th century; however, there is scarcity of competency descriptions from outside of North America. Furthermore, little knowledge is available on the previous research-driven efforts to develop and validate clinical nurse specialist core competencies.

DESIGN

A descriptive study, using an online self-report questionnaire, was conducted from May to September 2019 in three Nordic countries.

METHODS

An exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring and rotation method oblimin with Kaiser normalisation was undertaken to examine factors in the 50-item scale. Parallel analysis with eigenvalue Monte Carlo simulation and scree plot was used to determine the number of factors to extract. Psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated, and subjective interpretation was used to modify the tool in line with the statistical analysis. The STROBE checklist was used as the reporting guideline for this study.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-four responses were obtained (Finland n = 52, Denmark n = 95, Iceland n = 37) with an overall response rate of 45%. The results provided construct validity evidence of the underlying theoretical structures of the four competency spheres of patient, nursing, organisation and scholarship. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the original overall scale was 0.94, thus indicating adequate reliability of the scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the analysis and subjective interpretation, we suggest a 47-item clinical nurse specialist core competency scale. Further study should be conducted to validate the core competency content and construct in other contexts beyond the present study.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The scale may be used to guide clinical nurse specialist practice and identify areas for professional development, develop graduate-level programme curricula and inform future competency research.

Content validation of the Nutritional Attention Assessment Instrument in Primary Health Care

RESUMO Objetivo Construir e validar o conteúdo de um instrumento para avaliar a organização da atenção nutricional na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo transversal e de validação. A construção do Instrumento de Avaliação da Atenção Nutricional foi baseada em revisão de literatura e em consulta a documentos oficiais. O instrumento foi submetido à validação de conteúdo utilizando técnica Delphi em duas rodadas. Resultados O painel para validação foi formado por 29 especialistas das cinco Macrorregiões Brasileiras: 13 docentes/pesquisadores do ensino superior, sete gestores de alimentação e de nutrição, quatro profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde e cinco alinhados ao tema, a maioria (89,7%) atuante em serviços públicos, com experiência acima de seis anos. O instrumento validado contém 68 questões e 10 indicadores: (1) Atuação do nutricionista; (2) Apoio às ações de Atenção Nutricional: infraestrutura e educação permanente; (3) Intersetorialidade; (4) Controle Social; (5) Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional; (6) Atenção Nutricional Individual; (7) Atenção Nutricional para grupos; (8) Atenção Nutricional voltada ao pré-natal; (9) Atenção Nutricional voltada ao puerpério/aleitamento e (10) Atenção Nutricional à saúde da criança. Conclusão O instrumento proposto avança ao viabilizar o estabelecimento de processos avaliativos da Atenção Nutricional. Espera-se que ele seja amplamente utilizado para avaliar a atenção nutricional ofertada em municípios, em estados e na esfera federal. Os resultados obtidos com futuras aplicações poderão contribuir para respaldar a qualificação da gestão das políticas de alimentação e de nutrição.

Validação de conteúdo de Instrumento de Avaliação da Atenção Nutricional na Atenção Primária à Saúde

RESUMO Objetivo Construir e validar o conteúdo de um instrumento para avaliar a organização da atenção nutricional na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo transversal e de validação. A construção do Instrumento de Avaliação da Atenção Nutricional foi baseada em revisão de literatura e em consulta a documentos oficiais. O instrumento foi submetido à validação de conteúdo utilizando técnica Delphi em duas rodadas. Resultados O painel para validação foi formado por 29 especialistas das cinco Macrorregiões Brasileiras: 13 docentes/pesquisadores do ensino superior, sete gestores de alimentação e de nutrição, quatro profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde e cinco alinhados ao tema, a maioria (89,7%) atuante em serviços públicos, com experiência acima de seis anos. O instrumento validado contém 68 questões e 10 indicadores: (1) Atuação do nutricionista; (2) Apoio às ações de Atenção Nutricional: infraestrutura e educação permanente; (3) Intersetorialidade; (4) Controle Social; (5) Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional; (6) Atenção Nutricional Individual; (7) Atenção Nutricional para grupos; (8) Atenção Nutricional voltada ao pré-natal; (9) Atenção Nutricional voltada ao puerpério/aleitamento e (10) Atenção Nutricional à saúde da criança. Conclusão O instrumento proposto avança ao viabilizar o estabelecimento de processos avaliativos da Atenção Nutricional. Espera-se que ele seja amplamente utilizado para avaliar a atenção nutricional ofertada em municípios, em estados e na esfera federal. Os resultados obtidos com futuras aplicações poderão contribuir para respaldar a qualificação da gestão das políticas de alimentação e de nutrição.

The framework for developing nursing specialist roles in the health care system of Iran

BACKGROUND

A key step to the development of a roadmap for developing nursing specialist roles is to create its framework based on the immediate context.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to create the framework for developing nursing specialist roles in the health care system of Iran.

METHODS

This was a descriptive qualitative study. A purposeful sample of 81 nursing and nonnursing experts was recruited. The directed content analysis approach was used for data analysis.

FINDINGS

The framework for developing nursing specialist roles in the health care system include eight main categories. These categories are role titles, prioritization of the necessary specialties, the necessary competencies of nurses at specialist level, the scope of nursing specialist practice, expected authorizations, requirements for role development, and its barriers and facilitators.

DISCUSSION

Creating a context-based framework for nursing specialist role development based on the characteristics of each country is recommended.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of doctor-nurse substitution strategies in primary care: a qualitative evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND

Having nurses take on tasks that are typically conducted by doctors (doctor-nurse substitution, a form of 'task-shifting') may help to address doctor shortages and reduce doctors' workload and human resource costs. A Cochrane Review of effectiveness studies suggested that nurse-led care probably leads to similar healthcare outcomes as care delivered by doctors. This finding highlights the need to explore the factors that affect the implementation of strategies to substitute doctors with nurses in primary care. In our qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), we focused on studies of nurses taking on tasks that are typically conducted by doctors working in primary care, including substituting doctors with nurses or expanding nurses' roles.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To identify factors influencing implementation of interventions to substitute doctors with nurses in primary care. (2) To explore how our synthesis findings related to, and helped to explain, the findings of the Cochrane intervention review of the effectiveness of substituting doctors with nurses. (3) To identify hypotheses for subgroup analyses for future updates of the Cochrane intervention review.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CINAHL and PubMed, contacted experts in the field, scanned the reference lists of relevant studies and conducted forward citation searches for key articles in the Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index databases, and 'related article' searches in PubMed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We constructed a maximum variation sample (exploring variables such as country level of development, aspects of care covered and the types of participants) from studies that had collected and analysed qualitative data related to the factors influencing implementation of doctor-nurse substitution and the expansion of nurses' tasks in community or primary care worldwide. We included perspectives of doctors, nurses, patients and their families/carers, policymakers, programme managers, other health workers and any others directly involved in or affected by the substitution. We excluded studies that collected data using qualitative methods but did not analyse the data qualitatively.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We identified factors influencing implementation of doctor-nurse substitution strategies using a framework thematic synthesis approach. Two review authors independently assessed the methodological strengths and limitations of included studies using a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. We assessed confidence in the evidence for the QES findings using the GRADE-CERQual approach. We integrated our findings with the evidence from the effectiveness review of doctor-nurse substitution using a matrix model. Finally, we identified hypotheses for subgroup analyses for updates of the review of effectiveness.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 66 studies (69 papers), 11 from low- or middle-income countries and 55 from high-income countries. These studies found several factors that appeared to influence the implementation of doctor-nurse substitution strategies. The following factors were based on findings that we assessed as moderate or high confidence.Patients in many studies knew little about nurses' roles and the difference between nurse-led and doctor-led care. They also had mixed views about the type of tasks that nurses should deliver. They preferred doctors when the tasks were more 'medical' but accepted nurses for preventive care and follow-ups. Doctors in most studies also preferred that nurses performed only 'non-medical' tasks. Nurses were comfortable with, and believed they were competent to deliver a wide range of tasks, but particularly emphasised tasks that were more health promotive/preventive in nature.Patients in most studies thought that nurses were more easily accessible than doctors. Doctors and nurses also saw nurse-doctor substitution and collaboration as a way of increasing people's access to care, and improving the quality and continuity of care.Nurses thought that close doctor-nurse relationships and doctor's trust in and acceptance of nurses was important for shaping their roles. But nurses working alone sometimes found it difficult to communicate with doctors.Nurses felt they had gained new skills when taking on new tasks. But nurses wanted more and better training. They thought this would increase their skills, job satisfaction and motivation, and would make them more independent.Nurses taking on doctors' tasks saw this as an opportunity to develop personally, to gain more respect and to improve the quality of care they could offer to patients. Better working conditions and financial incentives also motivated nurses to take on new tasks. Doctors valued collaborating with nurses when this reduced their own workload.Doctors and nurses pointed to the importance of having access to resources, such as enough staff, equipment and supplies; good referral systems; experienced leaders; clear roles; and adequate training and supervision. But they often had problems with these issues. They also pointed to the huge number of documents they needed to complete when tasks were moved from doctors to nurses.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Patients, doctors and nurses may accept the use of nurses to deliver services that are usually delivered by doctors. But this is likely to depend on the type of services. Nurses taking on extra tasks want respect and collaboration from doctors; as well as proper resources; good referral systems; experienced leaders; clear roles; and adequate incentives, training and supervision. However, these needs are not always met.

Achieving consensus on the undergraduate curriculum of public health nursing in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to construct a consensus on the undergraduate learning objectives and topics for public health nursing (PHN) in Turkey.

DESIGN

A three-round e-mail-based Delphi study was conducted between May and July 2015 with a national sample.

SAMPLE

Ninety-one academics from 54 universities were invited as experts to participate by e-mail. Fifty-nine academics from 43 universities participated in the study.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were analyzed by computing the median, quartiles one and three, and the interquartile range for each learning outcome and topic. Consensus was considered as less than the interquartile range of 1.2.

RESULTS

Experts who participated in the study added 70 learning outcomes, eight main topics, and 278 sub-topics during the first round. Round I generated 170 learning outcomes, 28 main topics, and 385 sub-topics. At the end of Round II, consensus was reached on 126 learning outcomes, 22 main topics and 168 sub-topics. At the end of Round III, consensus was achieved for 126 learning outcomes, 22 main topics, and 169 sub-topics.

CONCLUSION

The learning outcomes and topics that were decided upon through a consensus process will contribute to the standardization and development of PHN education.

Nurse Prescribing From the Global Vantage Point: The Intersection Between Role and Policy

Nurses around the world are increasingly prescribing and managing pharmaceutical agents. Prescribing by nurses is currently based on varying nursing roles, depending on national and regional norms and practices. Prescribing occurs within the advance practice, advanced level, and task-sharing roles, depending on the country. It is evolving both within and outside of traditional regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to describe the nurse prescribing globally among various nursing roles that support and facilitate the practice. We gathered practice, statutory, and regulatory information from gray and peer-reviewed literature, Google search and Google scholar, government websites, PubMed, and CINAHL electronic databases. In contrast to previous global policy reviews that focus primarily on high-income nations, our findings suggest that nurse prescribing occurs extensively in all six continents. Nurse prescribing within the context of advanced practice nursing occurs mostly in high-income countries. However, the predominant model of nurse prescribing from the global context occurs within the advanced level role by postbasic or postprofessional nurses. Additional nurse prescribing occurs through less formal task-sharing arrangements, primarily in low- to middle-income countries. In general, nurse prescribing is evolving rapidly around the world but within highly variable roles and regulatory frameworks. Codifying these roles by strengthening of educational and regulatory standards may serve to enhance the health system capacity, especially in low- to middle-income countries.

Constructing content validity of clinical nurse specialist core competencies: exploratory sequential mixed-method study

RATIONAL

The demand to increase nursing competence is brought on by the requirement of safe, accessible and more effective use of healthcare provider expertise. Clinical nurse specialist competency development dates back to the late 20th century; however, an examination of the literature reveals a lack of research and discussion to support the competency development.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the formulation and validation process of the clinical nurse specialist core competencies.

DESIGN

Exploratory sequential mixed-method design.

METHODS

This mixed-method study, conducted between 2013 and 2017 in Finland, involved four phases: I) a Policy Delphi study (n = 25, n = 22, n = 19); II) cross-mapping of preliminary competency criteria against international competency sets; III) content validity study of expanded competency criteria (n = 7, n = 10); and IV) verification of competency criteria with practicing CNSs (n = 16). Data were analysed by both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods.

RESULTS

Seventy-four preliminary clinical nurse competency criteria were formulated in the first phase of the study. Through cross-mapping the competencies against the US and Canadian clinical nurse specialist competency sets, they were further concised to 61 criteria. The examination of Content Validity Indexes and experts' comments led to the clarification and consequent inclusion of 50 criteria to the final scale, with Scale Content Validity Index Average of 0.94. The competency criteria were evaluated to be a solid set with potential to clarify and uniform the clinical nurse specialist roles.

CONCLUSIONS

Through a rigorous research process, validated clinical nurse specialist competency criteria were formed with a high Scale Content Validity Index Average. The results allude to the potential of formulating international competency criteria to support global role clarity and understanding. However, further research is needed to validate the content and construct of the formulated competencies with a larger population across countries.

Focus group interviews examining the contribution of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists in Ireland

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore the contribution of clinical nurse specialists in intellectual disability nursing in Ireland.

BACKGROUND

While clinical nurse specialists exist since the 1940s, they have only been a reality in Ireland since 2001. While the role of clinical nurse specialist has developed over the years, it still however is often seen as a complex multifaceted role that causes confusion, frustration and controversy.

DESIGN

A exploratory qualitative approach using focus groups with Irish intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists (n = 31).

METHODS

Five focus group interviews were conducted to gather qualitative data to gain insight into the attitudes, perceptions and opinions of the participants. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using Burnard's (Vital Notes for Nurses: Research for Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare, 2011, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford) framework. Ethical approval was gained from the researcher's university and access granted by the national council for the professional development of nursing/midwifery in Ireland.

RESULTS

The study highlights that intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists contribute to and support care delivery across a range of areas including client-focused and family-centred care, staff support, organisation support, community support and supporting other agencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the study shows the importance of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists and their contribution across a range of services, care environments and the support they offer to clients/families/staff/multidisciplinary team members and outside agencies.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Ireland is in a unique position to develop knowledge regarding specialist care for people with intellectual disability that can be shared and adapted by other healthcare professionals in other countries that do not have specialised intellectual disability nurses.

Advanced Practice Nursing: A Strategy for Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Universal Access to Health

Objective:

to examine advanced practice nursing (APN) roles internationally to inform role development in Latin America and the Caribbean to support universal health coverage and universal access to health.

Method:

we examined literature related to APN roles, their global deployment, and APN effectiveness in relation to universal health coverage and access to health.

Results:

given evidence of their effectiveness in many countries, APN roles are ideally suited as part of a primary health care workforce strategy in Latin America to enhance universal health coverage and access to health. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico are well positioned to build this workforce. Role implementation barriers include lack of role clarity, legislation/regulation, education, funding, and physician resistance. Strong nursing leadership to align APN roles with policy priorities, and to work in partnership with primary care providers and policy makers is needed for successful role implementation.

Conclusions:

given the diversity of contexts across nations, it is important to systematically assess country and population health needs to introduce the most appropriate complement and mix of APN roles and inform implementation. Successful APN role introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean could provide a roadmap for similar roles in other low/middle income countries.