Leveraging nurse practitioner capacities to achieve global health for all: COVID‐19 and beyond

Abstract

Aim To argue that nurse practitioners have been under‐utilized generally in the current global health environment, creating barriers to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Background Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses possessing expert knowledge and leadership skills that can be optimized to narrow disparities and ensure access to high‐quality health care globally. Nurses worldwide have been challenged to meet global public health needs in the context of COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2 virus), and there are early indications that nurse practitioners are being called upon to the full extent of their capabilities in the current pandemic. Sources of evidence PubMed; Google Scholar; the International Council of Nurses; World Health Organization; United Nations; and the experiences of the authors. Discussion Several international reports, nursing and health organizations have called for continued investment in and development of nursing to improve mechanisms that promote cost‐effective and universally accessible care. Expanding nurse practitioner scopes of practice across nations will leverage their clinical capacities, policy and advocacy skills, and talents to lead at all levels. Conclusion Ongoing empirical data and policy change is needed to enable the full scope and strategic utilization of nurse practitioners across healthcare systems and contexts. Implications for nursing practice, and nursing and health policy Widespread education regarding nurse practitioner capacities for interdisciplinary partners, policymakers and the public is needed. Policies that safely expand their roles are critical. Role titles and remuneration reflective of their scope and service are required to lead, sustain and grow the workforce internationally.

Work environment of hospital nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Brazil

“…In others, due to the limited availability of tests, because of the scarcity of financial resources or logistic difficulties in transportation, priority was given to individuals in risk groups (Cheng et al 2020). This highlights the importance of planning future strategies focused on using technology more smartly to deliver health and nursing care, prudent use of scarce resources, triaging of large numbers of patients and the way in which patients, their friends and relatives interact with the nurses (Rosa et al 2020).…”

“…In the hospital environment, the nursing team is responsible for most of the care procedures that the patients receive during their hospitalization. Therefore, nursing has been a protagonist in the care of hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, developing a vital role on innovating practice (Bitencourt et al 2020; Huang et al 2020; Medeiros 2020; Rosa et al 2020).…”

Access to Care: End-to-End Digital Response for COVID-19 Care Delivery

“… 4 NPs and PAs have a critical role in digital health as part of the workforce of the future, helping to deliver end-to-end solutions for access to care. 18 Their knowledge and clinical skills make them strong leaders for new models of care delivery. Our organization is currently in developmental stages with digital programs that have broader implications for addressing social determinants of health; these programs can be utilized by NPs/PAs who deliver population-based healthcare.…”

Nurse practitioner led model of after-hours emergency care in an Australian rural urgent care Centre: health service stakeholder perceptions

“…Hence, the significance of this study is amplified as disaster preparedness adds another layer of complexity for rural emergency departments struggling to remain resilient. Possessing the agility to respond to these challenges is necessary if inequity of service provision to already vulnerable populations is to be diminished: the NP-led model for after-hours urgent care can be leveraged to offer health services that agility [ 54 ] making it a desirable and necessary alternative.…”