title: Beyond competencies: using a capability framework in developing practice standards for advanced practice nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper presents a discussion on the application of a capability framework for advanced practice nursing standards/competencies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is acceptance that competencies are useful and necessary for definition and education of practice-based professions. Competencies have been described as appropriate for practice in stable environments with familiar problems. Increasingly competencies are being designed for use in the health sector for advanced practice such as the nurse practitioner role. Nurse practitioners work in environments and roles that are dynamic and unpredictable necessitating attributes and skills to practice at advanced and extended levels in both familiar and unfamiliar clinical situations. Capability has been described as the combination of skills, knowledge, values and self-esteem which enables individuals to manage change, be flexible and move beyond competency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A discussion paper exploring 'capability' as a framework for advanced nursing practice standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were sourced from electronic databases as described in the background section.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As advanced practice nursing becomes more established and formalized, novel ways of teaching and assessing the practice of experienced clinicians beyond competency are imperative for the changing context of health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leading researchers into capability in health care state that traditional education and training in health disciplines concentrates mainly on developing competence. To ensure that healthcare delivery keeps pace with increasing demand and a continuously changing context there is a need to embrace capability as a framework for advanced practice and education.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coyer
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*
keywords: advanced practice; capability; clinical competence; context specificity; dynamic practice; nurse practitioner; practice standards; situated cognition