Continuing education for advanced practice nurses: A scoping review

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the nature and extent of scientific research addressing continuing education for advanced practice nurses.

Design: A scoping review.

Review methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews.

Data sources: Electronic search was conducted on 17 September 2023 via CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Evidence-Based Practice Database for research articles published between 2012 and 2023.

Results: Nineteen papers were included in this review. Scientific research on continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles (i.e. nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist) has primarily been conducted in the United States and mostly addresses online-delivered continuing education interventions for clinical care competency. Most of the interventions targeted nurse practitioners.

Conclusion: Continuing education has a pivotal role in supporting advanced practice nursing competency development. In addition to clinical care, future continuing education research should focus on other advanced practice nursing competencies, such as education, leadership, supporting organizational strategies, research and evidence implementation.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Continuing education programmes for advanced practice nurses should be rigorously developed, implemented and evaluated to support the quality and effectiveness of patient care.

Impact: Continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles is an understudied phenomenon. This review highlights future research priorities and may inform the development of continuing education programmes.

Reporting method: PRISMA-ScR.

Keywords: advanced practice nursing; clinical nurse specialist; continuing education; nurse clinician; nurse practitioner; nurses; nursing; scoping review.