Continuing education for advanced practice nurses: A scoping review.

AIM: The aim of the study was to identify the nature and extent of scientific research addressing continuing education for advanced practice nurses. DESIGN: A scoping review. REVIEW METHODS: The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews. DATA SOURCES: Electronic search was conducted on 17 September 2023 via CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Evidence-Based Practice Database for research articles published between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: Nineteen papers were included in this review. Scientific research on continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles (i.e. nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist) has primarily been conducted in the United States and mostly addresses online-delivered continuing education interventions for clinical care competency. Most of the interventions targeted nurse practitioners. CONCLUSION: Continuing education has a pivotal role in supporting advanced practice nursing competency development. In addition to clinical care, future continuing education research should focus on other advanced practice nursing competencies, such as education, leadership, supporting organizational strategies, research and evidence implementation. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Continuing education programmes for advanced practice nurses should be rigorously developed, implemented and evaluated to support the quality and effectiveness of patient care. IMPACT: Continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles is an understudied phenomenon. This review highlights future research priorities and may inform the development of continuing education programmes. REPORTING METHOD: PRISMA-ScR.

Finnish Version of the Specialist Outcomes and Barriers Analysis Scale: Evaluation of Psychometric Properties.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the Specialist Outcomes and Barriers Analysis Scale. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: Cultural adaptation of the translation and content validity of the translated instrument were assessed by expert panelists (n = 5) using the content validity index. The construct validity was assessed with principal component analysis using the survey data of Finnish registered nurses (n = 60). Scale reliability was assessed with Cronbach's α values. All study phases were conducted in 2021. RESULTS: The items (n = 59) of the scale were critically evaluated by the experts. The full-scale content validity was revealed as excellent (0.92). In terms of construct validity, the scale was analyzed separately for outcomes and barriers. The outcomes section revealed a 5-component structure with an overall Cronbach's α coefficient of .96, and the barriers section, a 2-component structure with an overall Cronbach's α coefficient of .82, indicating adequate reliability of the scale. CONCLUSION: The Finnish version of the scale showed excellent content and construct validity. The Cronbach's α values represented adequate reliability of the Specialist Outcomes and Barriers Analysis scale when measuring nurses' perceived practice outcomes and barriers in the Finnish context.

Promoting resilience among adult cancer patients: An integrative review of patient education methods.

PURPOSE: To explore the essential elements of patient education methods for promoting resilience among adult cancer patients. METHODS: The PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases were searched fromJanuary 2010 to April 2021. The outcome of interest was resilience. The integrative review applied the PRISMA statement guidelines. RESULTS: Nine studies were identified, which formed three main patient education strategies that fell under categories: 1. Provision of illness-related information 2. Learning self-management skills 3. Provision of emotional support and the adjustment process. The key elements include promotion of positive factors, easing patients' mental burden, highlighting the importance of illness-related information, developing self-management skills, and emotional support. Interventions prepared patients for the future, enhanced their understanding of illness and recovery process, and comfort in physical and mental aspects of life, and improved their resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience among cancer patients is a process that helps them adjust to live with cancer. The provision of psychosocial support and illness-related information, as well as learning self-management skills, are essential elements of patient education interventions that aim to improve resilience among adult cancer patients.