title: Regulation of advanced nurse practice: its existence and regulatory dimensions from an international perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the regulation of advanced nurse practice internationally and to identify differences and commonalities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Regulation of advanced practice nursing does not occur in many countries. Ireland is currently in the minority in regulating advanced practice at a national level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lack of regulation poses difficulties for national governments and for society due to uncertainty in advanced practice concept and role.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of 510 scholarly nursing papers published in CINAHL, PubMed and MEDLINE between 2002 and 2013 and 30 websites was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a lack of consistency in legislative systems internationally. Nursing organisations have recognised advanced nurse practice by regulation in some countries and by voluntary certification in others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research has demonstrated that care delivered by advanced nurse practitioners has enhanced patient outcomes yet regulation of advanced practice is not undertaken in most countries.
  Nurse managers need to know that criteria for the regulation of advanced practice are in place and reflect the minimum requirements for safe practice.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carney
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002568:Certification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012042:Registries
keywords: advanced nurse practice; certification; licensing; professional bodies; regulation; regulatory systems