Commentary: The Future of Advanced Practice Nursing: What's Next for Canada and the World?

ABSTRACT

Advanced practice nurses' (APNs') role definition, education, regulation, scope of practice, working conditions and integration vary worldwide. Clarity and alignment of foundational APN tenets can strengthen future workforce harmonization, innovation and models of care and data reliability for discussions and decision making. This global clarity and consistency can inform the design, delivery and leadership aspiring for health, education and socio-economic systems. Healthcare demands related to the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid crisis, aging population, non-communicable diseases, natural disasters and climate change have exposed glaring health needs and taxed workforces' and service capacity locally and globally. A fulsome deployment of nurse practitioners is one strategy that could help mitigate the impacts of these forces.