Advanced Practice Nursing in Nigerian Healthcare: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

This study explored the prospects and challenges of introducing advanced practice nursing (APN) in the Nigerian health system. It sought to address the following: career pathways for registered nurses and midwives, advanced duties performed by them and the circumstances, their views and willingness for autonomous practice, and doctors’ degree of acceptance. Research population composed of registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors in primary healthcare. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the scope of practice, standards and competencies of the APN established by the International Council of Nurses (2008). A 12-item checklist of typical duties of APN from the framework provided a guide for the design of eight main questions and 19 subquestions. Data was collected from 17 participants through in-depth interviews and group discussions and analyzed using Charmaz’s three simplified methods for qualitative data. Findings were that (a) registered nurses and midwives are constrained to perform advanced duties, (b) doctors delegate advanced roles to nurses and midwives, (c) nurses and midwives lacked pathways for advancement, (d) APN would substitute for doctor shortage, and (e) advocacy and lobbying has to done by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to change the current policy. The social change implication is that it offers insight into the potentials for APN in healthcare delivery. Keywords: advanced practice

Bridging the gap: How investing in advanced practice nurses could transform emergency care in Africa

“…For example, a study conducted in South Africa found that implementing a nurse-led trauma service was associated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced mortality rates and shorter hospital stays; however, the enhanced outcomes might be seen as a result of both system-and nursing-related contributions, illustrating the importance of integrating nursing expertise within the trauma care system to improve patient outcomes (Christmals & Armstrong, 2019a, 2019bWearmouth & Smith, 2019). Similarly, a study conducted in Nigeria found that utilizing APNs in emergency care was associated with improved triage and patient outcomes (Chimezie & Ibe, 2019). A study in Uganda also showed that investing in APNs increased access to emergency care and improved the quality of care and cost-effectiveness of care provided (Terry et al, 2012).…”

“…These nurses can order relevant investigations, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions and are often involved in the management of critically ill patients, including doing medical procedures that can save patients. In addition, they can provide holistic support and health education to patients and their families, improving patient satisfaction and overall health outcomes (Chimezie & Ibe, 2019). However, despite the potential benefits of APN in emergency care, there are still significant challenges to their implementation and integration into healthcare systems in Africa.…”