TY - JOUR
T1 - Advanced practice nursing initiatives in Africa, moving towards the nurse practitioner role
T2 - Experiences from the field
AU - Gray, Deborah C.
AU - Rogers, Melanie
AU - Miller, Minna K.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to recognize Bongi Sibanda, MSc, APN, RN, FHEA, Lead for Advanced Clinical Practice Education at the NHS trust in London, DNP student at Queens University Belfast, and ICN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network member. Although she was unable to participate in this project, we would like to highlight her tireless work and significant contributions in leading the Anglophone Africa Advanced Practice Nurse Coalition and towards the advancement of Advanced Practice Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner role in Africa.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. International Nursing Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Council of Nurses.
PY - 2024/6/1
Y1 - 2024/6/1
N2 - Aim: This paper discusses the development and progression of the advanced practice nurse practitioner role in Africa. Background: Providing adequate primary health care is problematic in Africa. The World Health Organization and International Council of Nurses proposed that nurses, specifically advanced practice nurse practitioners with the requisite skills in disease prevention, diagnosis and management, can be key to solving the primary care issue. Sources of evidence: This paper utilized publications from PUBMED, CINAHL, policy papers, websites, workgroups, conferences, and the experiences and knowledge of authors involved in leading and moving forward key events and projects. Discussion: Four African countries have formally adopted the advanced practice nurse practitioner role, with significant interest from countries throughout Africa, and ever-increasing requests for assistance regarding initiation, development and integration of advanced practice roles. Initiatives to advance the roles have been supported by the International Council of Nurses Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network and Global Academy of Research and Enterprise. Next steps and projects for future role development are discussed. Conclusions: There is a progression towards the adoption of the advanced practice nurse practitioner role in Africa, and further mechanisms are suggested to allow full uptake and utilization. Implications for nursing practice: Prioritization and investment in initiatives implementing nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse roles in Africa allows nurses to pursue further education, advanced role and leadership opportunities consistent with Nursing Now goals. Implications for health policy: Implementation of nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse roles increases the primary care workforce, consistent with recommendations and priorities in the World Health Organization Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025 helping countries ensure that nurses optimally contribute to achieving universal health coverage and other population health goals.
AB - Aim: This paper discusses the development and progression of the advanced practice nurse practitioner role in Africa. Background: Providing adequate primary health care is problematic in Africa. The World Health Organization and International Council of Nurses proposed that nurses, specifically advanced practice nurse practitioners with the requisite skills in disease prevention, diagnosis and management, can be key to solving the primary care issue. Sources of evidence: This paper utilized publications from PUBMED, CINAHL, policy papers, websites, workgroups, conferences, and the experiences and knowledge of authors involved in leading and moving forward key events and projects. Discussion: Four African countries have formally adopted the advanced practice nurse practitioner role, with significant interest from countries throughout Africa, and ever-increasing requests for assistance regarding initiation, development and integration of advanced practice roles. Initiatives to advance the roles have been supported by the International Council of Nurses Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network and Global Academy of Research and Enterprise. Next steps and projects for future role development are discussed. Conclusions: There is a progression towards the adoption of the advanced practice nurse practitioner role in Africa, and further mechanisms are suggested to allow full uptake and utilization. Implications for nursing practice: Prioritization and investment in initiatives implementing nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse roles in Africa allows nurses to pursue further education, advanced role and leadership opportunities consistent with Nursing Now goals. Implications for health policy: Implementation of nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse roles increases the primary care workforce, consistent with recommendations and priorities in the World Health Organization Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025 helping countries ensure that nurses optimally contribute to achieving universal health coverage and other population health goals.
KW - Advanced Practice Nurse
KW - Advanced Practice Nursing
KW - Africa
KW - global health
KW - global nursing
KW - health policy
KW - international advanced practice nursing
KW - Nurse Practitioner
KW - primary health care
KW - regulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151478572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/inr.12835
DO - 10.1111/inr.12835
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85151478572
VL - 71
SP - 205
EP - 210
JO - International Nursing Review
JF - International Nursing Review
SN - 0020-8132
IS - 2
ER -