Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review

Background: In Ireland the role of advanced nurse practitioner has developed significantly since 2001. This evolution is rooted in the growing recognition of the need for highly skilled nursing professionals to address complex healthcare demands and improve patient outcomes. Objective: To scope the...

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Main Authors: Owen Doody, Margaret Graham, Orla Hegarty, Anne Marie Sloane, Pauline Walsh, Mary Synnott, Mary Russell, Trudy Dunworth, Jill Sheridan, Louise Murphy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000141
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author Owen Doody
Margaret Graham
Orla Hegarty
Anne Marie Sloane
Pauline Walsh
Mary Synnott
Mary Russell
Trudy Dunworth
Jill Sheridan
Louise Murphy
author_facet Owen Doody
Margaret Graham
Orla Hegarty
Anne Marie Sloane
Pauline Walsh
Mary Synnott
Mary Russell
Trudy Dunworth
Jill Sheridan
Louise Murphy
author_sort Owen Doody
collection DOAJ
description Background: In Ireland the role of advanced nurse practitioner has developed significantly since 2001. This evolution is rooted in the growing recognition of the need for highly skilled nursing professionals to address complex healthcare demands and improve patient outcomes. Objective: To scope the landscape and identify the effect of advanced nurse practitioners on healthcare provision in Ireland. Design: A systematic search of eight academic databases (CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Medline and Academic Search Complete, Cochrane, Web of Science) relevant to nursing and health care were performed. Setting(s): Nursing care environment. Participants: Advanced nurse practitioners delivering care. Methods: A pre-defined systematic search of eight academic databases was conducted, and two reviewers screened each study against the inclusion criteria. Additional hand-searching of the reference lists (backward chaining) and citations (forward chaining) of papers that met the inclusion criteria was conducted. The methodological details of each paper were extracted and assessed for quality and rigour utilising the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist for appraising grey literature. Data were mapped and analysed onto the six domains of advanced nurse practitioner practice, and the review was reported in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: All papers included in this review spanned across the last 20 years. In total, 45 papers met the inclusion criteria: quantitative (n = 11), qualitative (n = 15), mixed methods (n = 4), and discussion/clinical cases (n = 15) papers. Advanced nurse practitioners in Ireland contribute substantial impacts on management and team competence, clinical-decision making, leadership and professional scholarship, professional values and conduct, communication and interpersonal competence, and knowledge and cognitive competence domains. Advanced nurse practitioners in Ireland enhance healthcare outcomes through expertise, coordination, and patient-centred approaches, emphasising their critical role in healthcare delivery and system improvements. Conclusions: We have highlighted the active role advanced nurse practitioners play in enhancing patient care, improving management and team coordination, and advancing professional scholarship. These insights have provided a foundation for future research and policy development to optimise the advanced nurse practitioner role.
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spelling doaj-art-863dc5237bd1417e8d3ae131aff15dbf2025-08-20T02:05:20ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Nursing Studies Advances2666-142X2025-06-01810030410.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100304Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative reviewOwen Doody0Margaret Graham1Orla Hegarty2Anne Marie Sloane3Pauline Walsh4Mary Synnott5Mary Russell6Trudy Dunworth7Jill Sheridan8Louise Murphy9Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Corresponding author at: Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHSE Mid West Mental Health Services, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, IrelandHealth Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandBackground: In Ireland the role of advanced nurse practitioner has developed significantly since 2001. This evolution is rooted in the growing recognition of the need for highly skilled nursing professionals to address complex healthcare demands and improve patient outcomes. Objective: To scope the landscape and identify the effect of advanced nurse practitioners on healthcare provision in Ireland. Design: A systematic search of eight academic databases (CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Medline and Academic Search Complete, Cochrane, Web of Science) relevant to nursing and health care were performed. Setting(s): Nursing care environment. Participants: Advanced nurse practitioners delivering care. Methods: A pre-defined systematic search of eight academic databases was conducted, and two reviewers screened each study against the inclusion criteria. Additional hand-searching of the reference lists (backward chaining) and citations (forward chaining) of papers that met the inclusion criteria was conducted. The methodological details of each paper were extracted and assessed for quality and rigour utilising the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist for appraising grey literature. Data were mapped and analysed onto the six domains of advanced nurse practitioner practice, and the review was reported in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: All papers included in this review spanned across the last 20 years. In total, 45 papers met the inclusion criteria: quantitative (n = 11), qualitative (n = 15), mixed methods (n = 4), and discussion/clinical cases (n = 15) papers. Advanced nurse practitioners in Ireland contribute substantial impacts on management and team competence, clinical-decision making, leadership and professional scholarship, professional values and conduct, communication and interpersonal competence, and knowledge and cognitive competence domains. Advanced nurse practitioners in Ireland enhance healthcare outcomes through expertise, coordination, and patient-centred approaches, emphasising their critical role in healthcare delivery and system improvements. Conclusions: We have highlighted the active role advanced nurse practitioners play in enhancing patient care, improving management and team coordination, and advancing professional scholarship. These insights have provided a foundation for future research and policy development to optimise the advanced nurse practitioner role.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000141Advanced nurse practitionerAdvanced practitionerIrelandContributionRoleProfessional practice
spellingShingle Owen Doody
Margaret Graham
Orla Hegarty
Anne Marie Sloane
Pauline Walsh
Mary Synnott
Mary Russell
Trudy Dunworth
Jill Sheridan
Louise Murphy
Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
Advanced nurse practitioner
Advanced practitioner
Ireland
Contribution
Role
Professional practice
title Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
title_full Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
title_fullStr Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
title_full_unstemmed Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
title_short Identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in Ireland in the 21st century: An integrative review
title_sort identifying the landscape and contribution of advanced nurse practitioners in supporting healthcare provision in ireland in the 21st century an integrative review
topic Advanced nurse practitioner
Advanced practitioner
Ireland
Contribution
Role
Professional practice
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000141
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