Authors
- Shirley Gibbins – School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom; Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 1 Hardwick Street, London, United Kingdom
- Ed Lord – School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
- Patricia Masterson-Algar – School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
DOI
https://doi.org/10.65241/wh.9.1.8
Article type:
Review
Abstract:
Background: Advanced practice roles continue to evolve across healthcare professions in response to changing patient needs, workforce pressures, and service transformation. This scoping review maps the existing literature on the development, implementation, and regulation of advanced practice roles to identify transferable insights that may support the development of emerging advanced roles in other professional contexts, such as veterinary nursing.
Methods: The review followed JBI methodology and included a structured search of five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase) in April 2025. Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria, with most focused on advanced practice nursing, alongside examples from physiotherapy, radiotherapy, and wider allied health professions.
Results: Across the literature, the most commonly referenced title was “Advanced Practice Nurse.” Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the importance of clear and consistent role definition; (2) the need for education and training aligned with the intended scope of practice; (3) the role of regulation, governance, and professional credibility in supporting autonomy; and (4) the contribution of advanced practitioners to improved patient outcomes and service efficiency.
Conclusions: The review demonstrates that successful implementation of advanced roles depends on a coherent professional identity, robust competency frameworks, and supportive organisational and regulatory environments. These insights offer guidance for healthcare professions currently developing or refining advanced roles and are particularly relevant where roles are newly emerging or undergoing formalisation. No patients or members of the public were involved in this study.
Keywords:
Advanced practice nursing, role development, competency frameworks, regulation, professional identity, workforce transformation.