Nurse Practitioner: Is It Time to Have a Role in Saudi Arabia?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare policy
• Nursing workforce development
• International healthcare systems

Background:

• Saudi Arabia experiences a significant nursing shortage, exacerbated by a growing population and low recruitment of nationals.
• Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists, are vital in many global healthcare systems but are underutilized in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the barriers hindering the effective implementation of APRN roles in Saudi Arabia.
• To explore potential strategies for overcoming these barriers and integrating APRNs into the Saudi healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• The study analyzes regulatory, institutional, and cultural factors impacting APRN integration.
• It reviews international models of APRN implementation and their applicability to the Saudi context.

Main Results:

• Various regulatory, institutional, and cultural barriers impede the effective implementation of APRN roles in Saudi Arabia.
• The successful integration of APRNs in countries like the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia highlights their potential benefits.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the identified barriers is essential for successfully integrating APRNs into Saudi Arabia's healthcare system.
• APRNs have the potential to play a crucial role in meeting the growing healthcare demands in Saudi Arabia.