A review of advanced practice nursing in the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China

This paper provides an overview of Advanced Practice Nursing(APN)in the USA,Canada,Australia and Hong Kong.It is based upon documents presented to the China Medical Board(CMB)China Nursing Network(CNN)as background for discussions held by the CNN in Shanghai.It discusses the APN role in these countries and regions according to topics identified by the CNN.These are APN educational preparation;role legitimacy;capacity requirements;scope of practice,domains of activities and limited rights for prescription and referral;professional promotion ladder;accreditation system;and,perfor-mance evaluation system.Both Canada and Australia have adapted many aspects of the USA model of APN to fit their specific legislative requirements and local conditions.Hong Kong has taken a different path which may be of interest in the Chinese context.

Strategic directions and actions for advanced practice nursing in China

There is a need and opportunity for China to develop education and practice innovations given that advance practice nurses (APNs) improve health care and outcomes.The China Medical Board (CMB)China Nursing Network (CCNN) began planning for an Advanced Nursing Practice Program for education and career development that will facilitate CCNN's contributions to meeting national nursing policy priorities.This paper presents the discussion,recommendations and action plans developed at the inaugural planning meeting on June 26,2015 at Fudan University in Shanghai.The recommendations are:Develop standards for advanced nursing practice;Develop Master's level curricula based on the standards;Commence pilot projects across a number of University affiliated hospitals;and Prepare clinical tutors and faculty.The strategic directions and actions are: Develop a clinical career ladder system;Expand the nursing role from hospital to community;and Build a specialty nurse accreditation system.