Dutch advanced nursing practice students: role development through international short-term immersion

At Rotterdam University in The Netherlands, the master's advanced nursing practice (ANP) program focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) and emphasizes leadership development. An international experience is compulsory and is incorporated into the leadership course. Twenty master's ANP students were surveyed before and after participating in an international exchange program. The following research questions were examined: (a) Does the international exchange program affect the vision of the NP students about their role as an NP in The Netherlands? (b) Does the international exchange program encourage students to develop the NP role? Gaining insight into a well-established NP environment can help empower Dutch NP students to create the foundations for role development to distinguish itself as an autonomous profession. An international experience fostered a new sense of pride in this relatively new ANP role in The Netherlands.