Academic training for advanced practice nurses: International perspective

This article presents a general analysis about academic training of Advanced Practice Nurses at international level. Firstly, some essential and global characteristics of advanced practice training, the core competencies and the difficulties found in the implementation of the academic training programs for these figures are presented. Secondly, the reality of advanced practice training in our country is explained, with emphasis on some university programmes at Masters, level and the expansion of the official nursing specialties. Then the European situation is addressed, showing a great variability among countries in the implementation of these roles, as well as an important heterogeneity in the academic training associated with their performance. Lastly, continuing with the international perspective, the academic training for advanced practice nurses in the USA, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania is described.