Advanced practice nursing: international gator nursing week

Abstract

Objective: To describe the experience of the International Gator Nursing Week program focusing on advanced practice nurses’ (APNs) training and work in the United States of America. Method: An experience report on a one-week immersion course at the University of Florida College of Nursing, describing aspects related to APNs’ training structure and professional performance in mental healthcare services, Primary healthcare, pediatrics and hospital. Results: Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) refers to the clinical practice of nurses with specialized training and advanced healthcare skills, and these professionals are called APNs. The experience is described focusing on APNs’ educational training and professional performance in primary healthcare, mental health, pediatrics, advocacy for APN development, visits to primary healthcare services and research summits. Conclusion: The intensive experience in the program provided Brazilian nurses with the opportunity to learn about and participate in daily APN experiences in that country, expanding participants’ knowledge.