Högskolan i Skövde

Recommendations from national Finnish projects indicate the need for reorganization of future healthcare, raising the question of an advanced role for nurses. The first Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) course in Finland started in January 2005, at the University of Applied Sciences in Vaasa. The course concentrated on two main areas, assessment of acute care needs and care of patients with chronic diseases. Seventeen students completed their education in December 2006. The purpose of this study was to describe the consequences of the APN role from a personal and an organizational perspective.All 17 APNs who completed their education where interviewed. The interviews focused on the role of the APN, possible changes in working patterns, and attitudes towards the role. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results shows a great need for APNs in the clinics, however there are still much role confusion and attitudes are still pending. Some indicate that the content of their work has not changed at all. Others describe both increased responsibility and autonomy. However, everyone described that the education program had influenced them in their work: they describe an increased competence and capability; and altered notions of security and work satisfaction.