In terms of patients' satisfaction, one study found that patient satisfaction with advanced practice physiotherapy care was as high as with traditional care by orthopaedic surgeons for patients following total hip or knee replacement [ 14].
In addition, levels of activity that equate with advanced practice were observed amongst some clinical specialists, and consequently outcomes relating to clinical interventions were also influenced by this finding.
Validity of the data reported in this paper is likely to have been enhanced by the practices in which it was conducted (research-active, with advanced practice information systems) and the method of data collection (two researchers validating and cross-checking data that had been extracted and a study instrument developed to minimise variation between researchers).
The survey was pilot tested for feasibility and content validity with 10 advanced practice nurses from three local neonatal and pediatric intensive care units with expertise in pain assessment and management.
An advanced practice nurse identified the need, devised the plan, and coordinated the implementation, and now wishes to share the information and tools with other advanced practice nurses.
(Participant 8) To summarise, the participants in this study were undertaking many of the activities associated with the advanced practice role as outlined in Table 2.
The debate is ongoing [ 15, 16] although participants recognize the inevitability of a requirement for doctoral preparation and the importance of moving in parallel with other advanced practice nurses (APNs).
There are currently no complete national data on practicing behavioral health providers, but Ellis et al estimated the mental health workforce was about 350,000 in 2009, with psychiatrists and advanced practice psychiatric nurses in shortest supply [ 33].
In addition, a theoretical framework that would allow for international comparison with the specialist and advanced practice roles as operationalised in Ireland when compared with other countries where posts have been established for longer, was required.
Two randomized trials in older post-surgical cancer patients showed significant survival gains with home care by advanced practice nurses 53 or improved appropriateness of treatment strategies with nurse case management.
The adoption of open innovation may be sequential, starting with customer involvement, followed by employee involvement and external networking, and ending with more "advanced" practices such as IP licensing, R&D outsourcing, venturing, and external participations (Van de Vrande et al., 2009).
