Advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) play a key role in developing and sustaining the capacity and capability of the health and care workforce of the future.
What we do
Support the education, training and development of ANPs to the level of experienced and highly educated registered nurses, able to completely manage a person's care, not focused on any one condition.
What is advanced practice
Advanced practice is a level of practice, rather than a type or specialty of practice. It has four pillars:
- clinical practice
- leadership
- facilitation of learning
- evidence, research and development
ANPs are educated to master’s level and are assessed as competent in advanced level practice.
As a clinical leader, they have the freedom and authority to act and accept the responsibility and accountability for those actions.
This level of practice is characterised by autonomous decision making that includes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment including prescribing, for people with complex multi-dimensional needs.
Decisions are made using high level expert, knowledge and skills with the authority to refer, admit and discharge within appropriate clinical areas.
Working as part of the multidisciplinary team ANPs can work in or across all clinical settings, dependent on their area of expertise.
The full role definition, education requirements and core competencies of an ANP is described in the Transforming Nursing, Midwifery and Health Professions’ (NMaHP) Roles, Paper 2 Advanced Practice
Advanced nursing practice - transforming nursing roles: phase two:- Follow-up paper to the Transforming Roles paper on Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP) published in December 2017.
Advanced practice toolkit
The advanced practice toolkit is a repository for credible and supportive resources and information on issues relating to advanced practice within NHS Scotland. This toolkit can be used by anyone working in or aspiring to work in advanced practice. Practitioners, educators and managers will find this a useful resource that provides easy to access relevant information and links in one place.
The toolkit aims to facilitate the professional development of advanced practitioners and provides easy to navigate links to useful information across four pillars of practice.
User Forum
The advanced practice toolkit has a user forum that meets quarterly. The aim of the forum is to, provide advice and guidance on the user experience, review and provide feedback on the toolkit content, support any testing and development of new content and resources for the toolkit.
If you would like to join the forum please contact our mailbox - advancedpractice@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Links
- Transforming nursing, midwifery and health professions’ (NMaHP) roles, paper 2 advanced practice
- The advanced practice toolkit
- Advanced nursing practice - transforming nursing roles: Phase two (April 2021)
- Professional Portfolio - Sign in - Create or edit your Professional Portfolio.
- A Sway Guide to the Professional Portfolio – this content is specific to support workers but is a helpful tool for all NMAHPs
- NMAHP Development Framework the website for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Development Framework
Contact us
Last updated: 05/03/2025