Aim: To critically appraise and synthesize evidence of integrated care stemming from advanced practice nursing in elderly primary care settings throughout the United States and Thailand. Background: Advanced practice nurses are key to accelerating integrated elderly care in the community. Yet, their scope and capacity vary greatly across countries, making impact measurement highly challenging. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and ThaiJo databases was performed. Full-text articles in English or Thai language were reviewed using an inductive thematic approach from the integrated people-centred Health Services framework, adopted by the World Health Organization. Results: A total of 42 articles were appraised according to framework strategies: (1) people and community empowerment/engagement;(2) governance and accountability strengthening; (3) model of care reorientation; (4) service coordination; and (5) enabling environment creation. Collaborative roles and empowerment of older people were associated with higher quality of care. Thai nurses empowered individuals through community networks and resources, incorporating care models (strategy 1). In contrast, US nurses adopted a quality improvement and safety approach, incorporating technology into nursing interventions (strategy 5). Conclusion: Advanced practice nurses employ an array of strategies and approaches in caring for older people. Although their role varies from mostly substitute (US) to supplemental (Thailand), nurses in both countries contribute towards integrated person-centred care. Implication for nursing practice and nursing policy: Preparing advanced practice nurses to work in the community is a prerequisite for meeting ageing population health needs in a sustainable manner. Education, professional development and leadership training opportunities should focus on capacity building in: a) strengthening mutual accountability, b) reorienting the work environment through innovative care models and c) coordinating services through partnerships to achieve universal health and ensure healthy ageing.

Background Academic service-learning nursing partnerships (ASLNPs) integrate instruction, reflection, and scholarship with tailored service through enriched learning experiences that teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities, while meeting academic nursing outcomes. Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize evidence of community focused ASLNPs that promote primary health care throughout the Americas region. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and LILACS English-language databases was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Full-text articles published since 2010 were reviewed using an inductive thematic approach stemming from the “Advancing Healthcare Transformation: a New Era for Academic Nursing Report” and the Pan American Health Organization “Strategic Directions for Nursing.” Results A total of 51 articles were included with the vast majority 47 (92.1 %) representing North America. Structured, established relationships between an academic nursing institution or program and one or more community serving entities resulted in high levels of effectiveness and innovation across settings. Five themes emerged: (a) sustaining educational standards and processes - improving academic outcomes (25.5 %), (b) strengthening capacity for collaborative practice and interprofessional education (13.7 %), (c) preparing nurses of the future (11.8 %), (d) enhancing community services and outcomes (21.6 %), and (e) conceptualizing or implementing innovative academic nursing partnerships (27.4 %). A synthesis of conceptual frameworks and models revealed six focus areas: communities/populations (26.2 %), nursing (26.2 %), pedagogy (19 %), targeted outreach (14.3 %), interprofessional collaboration (11.9 %), and health determinants (9.5 %). A proliferation in US articles, triggered by nursing policy publications, was confirmed. Conclusions ASLNPs serve as mechanisms for nurses and faculty to develop and lead change across a wide variety of community settings and healthcare systems, develop scholarship, as well as for students to apply the knowledge and skills learned. Given the lack of geographically broad evidence, successes and challenges across U.S. partnerships should be viewed cautiously. Nevertheless, ASLNPs can play a critical role towards meeting the goal of universal health access and coverage through partnering with the education sector. Further investigation of grey literature as well as Spanish and Portuguese language literature from Latin American and Caribbean countries is highly recommended.