Designing and implementing an Advanced Nurse Practice in Critical Care programme from a university perspective within...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare education
• Advanced practice roles
• Critical care medicine

Background:

• Increasing demand for advanced practice roles in healthcare.
• Drivers include medical education shifts, economic factors, workforce gaps, and complex patient needs.
• The Advanced Critical Care Practitioner Curriculum was developed by the UK Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the design and implementation of the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner Curriculum at a university.
• To present the first such program implemented in Northern Ireland.
• To address healthcare workforce shortages and evolving patient care demands.

Main Methods:

• University-led design and implementation of the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner Curriculum.
• Adherence to the UK Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine's curriculum standards.
• Focus on practical application and structured education for critical care practitioners.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner program.
• The program represents a novel educational initiative in Northern Ireland.
• Contribution to developing a skilled advanced practice workforce in critical care.

Conclusions:

• The implemented curriculum effectively supports the development of advanced critical care practitioners.
• This initiative addresses key challenges in healthcare workforce planning.
• The program serves as a model for structured advanced practice education in critical care settings.