Practice patterns and role perception of advanced practice nurses: A nationwide cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims To explore registered nurses' perceptions towards the role of advanced practice nurses and to examine registered nurses' interests in becoming advanced practice nurses. Background Globally, the development and implementation of advanced practice nurses have been deemed propitious. Advanced practice nurses are recruited and developed from the current pool of registered nurses. Empirical research is needed to inform practice on ensuring the sustainability of the advanced practice nurse workforce through the recruitment and development of the current population of registered nurses. Methods A nationwide cross‐sectional online survey was conducted in Singapore. Registered nurses from all public health care institutions were surveyed. Results Respondents (n = 1,025) displayed optimism and acceptance towards advanced practice nurses. However, only 30.7% hoped to become advanced practice nurses. Nursing leaders were reported to have a low success rate in identifying registered nurses who were both suitable and interested in the advanced practice nurse role. Conclusions Registered nurses' positive perspectives towards the role of advanced practice nurses do not translate into interests in the role. The study offers pragmatic applicability in ensuring the sustainability of the advanced practice nurse workforce. Implications for Nursing Management Advanced practice nurse‐specific residency programmes for pre‐master registered nurses may be facilitative to retaining and recruiting registered nurses for the advanced practice nurse workforce.

Registered nurses' perceptions towards advanced practice nursing: A nationwide cross‐sectional study

“…In a recently published nationwide study on APNs' perceptions towards their role (Woo et al, ) using survey items similar to this study, the respondents' median level of agreement was 62.5%. With that as an estimate and assuming a 2% margin of error, 1,060 complete responses were required.…”

“…A recent study, which explored APNs' perceptions towards their practice patterns and role in Singapore, elucidated a lack of clarity and awareness of their role and capabilities, leading to role confusion among APNs. Advanced practice nurses found it difficult to delineate themselves from other health care professionals and attributed it to poorly defined job scopes (Woo et al, ). Such role confusion can detrimental to APN development if overlooked (Fealy et al, ).…”

“…Although most international literature established the positive impact nurses in advanced practice bring to care, role delineation between RNs and advanced practice nurses (APNs) remains unclear (Boyle, Saunders, & Drury, ; Woo, Zhou, Lim, & Tam, ). For instance, Australian health care consumers reported their inability to differentiate nurse practitioners (NPs) from other categories of nurses and were perplexed about the NP role and scope of practice (Parker et al, ).…”

“…Since then, policymakers have been rallying for the expansion of APNs' scope of practice (MOH & Workforce Singapore, ). Notably, a nationwide study that was conducted in Singapore exploring APNs' practice patterns and role perceptions reported APNs' general acceptance of and readiness for the expansion of role (Woo et al, ). The study findings aligned with the national agenda of expanding the health care workforce's capacity and capability (MOH & Workforce Singapore, ).…”

Understanding the role of an advanced practice nurse through the perspectives of patients with cardiovascular disease: A qualitative study

“…As APNs are highly skilled, there is a heightened interest to capitalise on this niche group of healthcare professionals to enhance the health workforce's productivity to service the impending surge of chronically ill patients through a greater use of the APN role (MOH Singapore, 2017). Congruent with Singapore's Ministry of Health, readiness and acceptance for role expansion were discerned among APNs practicing in Singapore (Woo, Zhou, Lim, & Tam, 2019). However, since the inception of the role of APNs in Singapore in 2003, an exploration of Singapore healthcare consumers' perceptions and acceptance of the role has yet to be done.…”