Advanced Nursing Practice International Experiences and Future Direction for Nursing in Slovenia Book of Abstracts Editors Majda Pajnkihar Dominika Vrbnjak July 2021 Title Advanced Nursing Practice Subtitle International Experiences and Future Direction for Nursing in Slovenia, Book of Abstracts Editors Majda Pajnkihar (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences) Dominika Vrbnjak (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences) Technical editor Jan Perša (University of Maribor, University Press) Cover designer Jan Perša (University of Maribor, University Press) Cover graphics Nurse, author Megan_Rexazin from Pixabay.com CC0 Conference First conference on Advanced Nursing Practice Date and place 18th February 2021, Slovenia, Online Programme & Majda Pajnkihar (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences), organizing Pamela Jeffries (George Washington University, School of Nursing), committee Dianne Cooney Miner (St. John Fisher Col ege Rochester, Wegmans School of Nursing), Hugh Mckenna (Ulster University, School of Nursing), Jozsef Betlehem (University of Pécs, Institute of Emergency Care), Andras Olah (University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences), Dominika Vrbnjak (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences), Sonja Šostar Turk (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences), Gregor Štiglic (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences), Klavdija Čuček Trifkovič (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences) & Aleksandra Lovrenčič (University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences). Published by University of Maribor Založnik University Press Slomškov trg 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia https://press.um.si, zalozba@um.si Co-published by University of Maribor Izdajatelj Faculty of Health Sciences Žitna ulica 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia https://fzv.um.si, fzv@um.si Edition 1st Publication type E-book Availabe at https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/590 Published Maribor, July 2021 © University of Maribor, University Press / Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba Text © Authors, Pajnkihar & Vrbnjak, 2021 This book is published under a Creative Commons 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to “copyleft” free and open source software licenses. Any third-party material in this book is published under the book’s Creative Commons licence unless indicated otherwise in the credit line to the material. If you would like to reuse any third-party material not covered by the book’s Creative Commons licence, you wil need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /4.0/ The authors are responsible for linguistic adequacy of abstracts. CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Univerzitetna knjižnica Maribor 616-083(082.2) CONFERENCE of Advanced nursing practice (1 ; 2021 ; online) Advanced nursing practice [Elektronski vir] : practice international experiences and future direction for nursing in Slovenia : book of abstracts : [1st conference of Advanced nursing practice, 28. February 2021, Slovenia] / editors Majda Pajnkihar, Dominika Vrbnjak. - 1st ed. - E-knjiga. - Maribor : Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba, 2021 Način dostopa (URL): https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/590 ISBN 978-961-286-499-6 (pdf) doi: 10.18690/978-961-286-499-6 COBISS.SI-ID 70651907 ISBN 978-961-286-499-6 (pdf) DOI https://doi.org/10.18690/978-961-499-6 Price Free copy For publisher prof. dr. Zdravko Kačič, rektor Univerze v Mariboru Attribution Pajnkihar, M. & Vrbnjak, D. (2021). Advanced Nursing Practice: International Experiences and Future Direction for Nursing in Slovenia, Book of Abstracts. Maribor: University Press. doi: 10.18690/978-961-286-499-6 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Table of Contents Foreword Majda Pajnkihar 1 The Advanced Practice Nurse in the USA: Roles, Competencies, Educational Preparation and Scope of Practice 3 Pamela R. Jeffries & Joyce Knestrick Advanced Nurse Practitioners in the UK: Their Selection, Preparation, Education and Practice 5 Hugh McKenna Advanced Practice in the UK- Addressing the Needs of our Patients Geraldine Lee 7 Advanced Nursing Practice in the Netherlands Sigrid CJM Vervoort 9 The Development for Nurses in Special Roles Jozsef Betlehem 11 The Case for Advanced Practice: Transforming Graduate Nursing Education in the United States 13 Dianne Cooney Miner 'The Chal enge for Advanced Practice in a Covid World' John Wel s 15 Implications of Demographic and Technological Changes for Health System and the Growing Role of Nurses 17 Eva Helena Zver Chal enges of further development of advanced nursing practice in the covid-19 post-epidemic era 19 Tit Albreht Presentation of newly developed model for ANP education in Slovenia and UM FHS study fields Integrated treatment of chronic patients in advanced nursing practice, Integrated care for older people in advanced nursing practice and Mental health in advanced nursing 21 practice Majda Pajnkihar & Dominika Vrbnjak ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Foreword MAJDA PAJNKIHAR Honourable and esteemed colleagues, lecturers and participants! It is my honour to welcome you to the first international conference on advanced knowledge in the field of nursing in Slovenia. I am very proud to introduce and start a broader discussion with you on the new educational model for advanced nursing practice. And on promoting advanced knowledge of nurses in Slovenia. By al means, the new profile of nurses at the Master degree level of education brings a broad palette of shifting roles and expanded competencies for nurses in their patients' treatment. Probably the most chal enging step of al wil be to reach a broader social and professional understanding and acceptance of this concept and place a higher value on nurses in our still very traditional system, model and perception of health care. 2 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. Nurses are at the core of the health and wel being of patients. Their professional contribution to the holistic and high-quality treatment of patients is essential and immeasurable. This needs to be recognised, this needs to be valued, and this needs to be promoted. We need to reach a shift in the current doctor-centred approach and perception of patient care. And this is not only for the sake of nurses themselves. A highly educated nurse can be of enormous value and support both to the doctor and the patient. The sooner this is recognised, the better our health care systems wil be. The idea, encouragement and enormous help in the development of nursing education with advanced knowledge was given to us by the deans and col eagues from the United States, Hungary, Ireland and the UK. The establishment of the education was supported by esteemed and honourable colleagues from the fields of medicine, health care and other disciplines from across Slovenia. Yet, no success would have been possible without the tremendous work and efforts of our faculty staff. Without the support of our university's leadership and team, which made it possible for us to enrol the first generation of excel ent students already, all of this would have remained only a wish and an idea. For this, I am enormously grateful to al of them. If there would be one thing I would wish for the end of my work as Dean – following our strong joint efforts both with colleagues in Slovenia and internationally – it is for this concept and more significant role and value of the nurses in our society to fully take hold. I hope and wish that the conference, with lectures and a demonstration of several decades of international experience, wil lay the foundation for nurses' further career development. The new profile of nurses wil contribute to the safety, care and efficiency of patient care, and this is the essence of what we are striving for. ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) The Advanced Practice Nurse in the USA: Roles, Competencies, Educational Preparation and Scope of Practice PAMELA R. JEFFRIES & JOYCE KNESTRICK George Washington University, School of Nursing, Washington, United States of America E-mail: pjeffries@email.gwu.edu, jknestrick77@email.gwu.edu Historical y, due to the complexity and variety of levels of ordinance of practice for nurse practitioners in the United States, the way nurse practitioners functioned was inconsistent state-to-state or from institution-to-institution. However, in the early 2000’s, stakeholders from each of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) organizations in the United States partnered to create a uniform regulatory model pertaining to legislation, accreditation, certification and education, hence the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation (APRN Consensus Work Group, 2008). Implementation of this model is now underway in al 50 states. There are currently four APRN roles including the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified nurse practitioner (CNP). 4 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. This presentation wil provide an overview of the advanced practice nurse in the US. Masters or doctoral y-prepared advanced practice nurses continue to play a critical role in the ever-changing landscape of US healthcare. In addition to obtaining an advanced degree, these practitioners must pass a national certification examination that measures APRN, role and population-focused competencies, and maintain continued competence as evidenced by recertification in the role and population through the national certification program throughout their career. Pathways for APRNs wil be depicted highlighting the opportunities and chal enges of both degree entry points. Chal enges facing the advanced practice nursing degree and role in the US wil also be reviewed, along with the patient and community benefits associated with utilizing advanced practice nurses within a large, complex national healthcare system. The evidence suggests these providers demonstrate high, quality care and display outcomes that benefit communities, particularly in rural, underserved areas. Keywords: advanced practice, roles, competencies, preparation, scope ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Advanced Nurse Practitioners in the UK: Their Selection, Preparation, Education and Practice HUGH MCKENNA Ulster University, School of Nursing, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland E-mail: hp.mckenna@ulster.ac.uk The 20 minute presentation on Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP) wil focus on what is Advanced Nursing Practice and how the programmes have been developed in the UK general y and Northern Ireland in particular. It wil describe how research has shown that ANPs are as competent and as safe as medical physicians and are acceptable to the public as independent autonomous practitioners. Specific attention wil be given to the development of the government’s Advanced Nursing Practice Framework and its purpose. This will include the core competencies for ANPs and a description of the ANP role. It was also focus on the academic preparation of ANPs at Master’s level at Ulster University School of Nursing, why the programme was developed, when it started and how it is funded, supported and provided. The presentation wil show the link between the core competencies and their related learning outcomes. The barriers to ANP education and practice wil also be discussed. The importance of getting medical staff involved and gaining the support 6 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. of the Department of Health wil be outlined. Furthermore, in the UK and elsewhere there are Specialist Nurse Practitioners (SNP). The presentation will show in detail the differences between the SNP role and that of the ANP. Some countries in the UK are moving to Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) where the programmes prepare nurses alongside Al ied Health Professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. This model wil also be discussed. A copy of the Advanced Nursing Practice Framework and the Pathway Portfolio showing how the core competencies are assessed wil be available for delegates. Keywords: advaned nursing practice, specialist nursing practice, advanced clinical practice, education preparation, core competencies ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Advanced Practice in the UK- Addressing the Needs of Our Patients GERALDINE LEE College London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland E-mail: gerry.lee@kcl.ac.uk Advanced nursing practice was first introduced in the UK over 40 years ago. Nurses who work in advanced practice (AP) roles must be able to demonstrate expertise in the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical, research, education and management/leadership. Working as an AP requires a high level of skills and knowledge (including advanced assessment skills, complex reasoning, critical thinking, reflection and ability to make decisions on treatment and management). Advanced practitioners should be assessed to determine if they are competent (i.e. can they apply their knowledge and skil s to their role). Despite the AP role being established for several decades, a lack of consensus on what AP is, lack of standardised education preparation for the AP role and as a result, many different titles are in use (for example: clinical nurse specialist, advanced nurse practitioner, emergency nurse practitioner and nurse consultant). 8 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. To address this issue, in 2017, NHS England developed a new AP framework for al non-medical allied professionals including nurses. The framework focuses on developing healthcare professionals to be able to assess, manage and treat patients with complex healthcare needs that includes management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes for example. This presentation wil outline how these changes have influenced the AP curriculum, the introduction of clinical competencies and changes to delivery of patient care that focuses on shared-decision-making and promoting self-management in long-term conditions. A new accreditation of AP programmes has begun and KCL is the first in England to gain accreditation. It is timely to develop a consensus around advanced practice and establish criteria around required education, competencies and knowledge to address the needs of our patients, especial y those with long-term conditons. Keywords: advanced practice, competencies, education, skil s & knowledge, longterm conditions ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Advanced Nursing Practice in the Netherlands SIGRID CJM VERVOORT University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Care Innovations, Division Imaging & Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands E-mail: s.vervoort@umcutrecht.nl The primary focus of the Nurse Practitioner in the Netherlands is nursing care; improving health, preventing disease, restoring health and alleviating suffering as wel as the disease itself, within the own area of expertise. Care and cure are offered integrated and continuity and quality of both specialist nursing care and medical treatment are provided. They fulfil a leading role in professional innovations, evidence-based practice and healthcare in general. The Nurse Practitioner was introduced in the Netherlands in 1997. Since the introduction of the Nurse Practitioner, the focus was on attaining an accepted position in patient care, regulated by law: In 2009 the Nurse Practitioner was official y recognised by the Dutch Government and registered as a new nursing profession in the specialist register of the Dutch Healthcare Professions Act (BIG act). In 2012 the capacities of the Nurse Practitioner were codified by law. Subsequently, they are al owed to independently perform medical tasks. Since 2015 they have full practice authority as an independent health professional., which 10 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. became definitive in 2018 (BIG act). For registration as Nurse Practitioner, a two/three-year education (subsidised) at a University of Applied Sciences need to be fol owed. The registration is evaluated every five years. In the Netherlands, there are currently 4404 Nurse Practitioners. About 800 are in education. Since the introduction, several studies have proven the added value of Nurse Practitioners. Nevertheless the definitive position, there is stil work to do: among others, for many Nurse Practitioners, the focus lies mainly on substituted medical tasks and production, innovations in care are limited; healthcare-costs are not decreased as expected; the conditions for learning in practice stil needs attention. Nurse Practitioners should take leadership and need a partner role in Health-organizations. The new Professional Competency Framework (2019) provide competencies needed, matching the demands of current developments in society and healthcare. Keywords: advanced nursing practice, Netherlands, added value, legalisation, chal enges ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) The Development for Nurses in Special Roles JOZSEF BETLEHEM University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary E-mail: betlehem@etk.pte.hu Hungary has started with a new model of training nurses at master’s level in 2017. This concept of advanced practice nursing was adapted to the latest chal enges of the Hungarian health care system. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the advanced practice orientated master’s level nursing education in Hungary and to describe the chal enges for the future, including post-COVID-19 area. Universities providing MSc nursing education and National Healthcare Services Center were asked to provide data after the enrolment of novice nurses for MSc programme from 2017. Descriptive statistics were used for analyses. An extended role for MSc nurses is wel known in many OECD countries. In Hungary in the first wave 155 students were enrolled in four universities. In 2017/2018 academic year University of Debrecen has admitted 27 persons; University of Pecs has admitted 80 persons; University of Szeged has admitted 17 12 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. persons; Semmelweis University has admitted 31 students. The distribution of students among the specializations is the following: anaesthesiology nurse 9; intensive therapy nurse 14; geriatric nurse 9; primary health care nurse 34; perioperative nurse 14; emergency nurse 44. A very strong financial supportive system has been introduced: a new scholarship has been established for students between 320.000-640.000 HUF (1000-2100 Euro) pro semester. Hospitals and other health care institutions could apply for fee to substitute nurses who are studying for APN MSc. A new mentor programme has been initiated for MD’s and other health care professional who take care for novice students. The first APN professionals have entered into the health care system in the spring of 2019 but the clear determination of their role in all specialization is still missing. Only the field of emergency care has welcomed the APNs immediately in emergency rooms. The legislation for primary health care is under way thanks to the support of an EU project (SRSP). The new working regulation should come in other fields as well. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of independent and skil ed nursing working force. In Hungary a new salary system for medical doctors came into force from 1st January 2021. The salaries for MDs elevated 2-3 times but not for nurses. This situation might threaten nurses from the health care service again which needs an urgent solution. The education of new advanced practice nurses has a good cal among nurses, although only less and less nurses with BSc are applying for MSc studies. In the past year COVID-19 pandemic showed how useful can be an extended role for nurses in emergency and intensive care settings. Keywords: nurses, Hungary, special roles, new model, advanced practice ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) The Case for Advanced Practice: Transforming Graduate Nursing Education in the United States DIANNE COONEY MINER St John Fisher Col ege Rochester, Wegmans School of Nursing, New York, United States of America E-mail: dcooney-miner@sjfc.edu In the US al Registered Nurses are prepared as generalists. Specialization occurs at the advanced practice or graduate level. Advaced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are prepared in four different roles which include nurse practitioner, clincial nurse specialist, nurse midwife and nurse anesthetist. Each APRN role specializes in the care of a unique poulation. Currently there is a national referendum to move to doctoral preparation for al APRN’s by 2025. The new degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice is one avenue to doctoral preparation that emphasizes clinical expertise, leadership and translation of research into practice. In recognition of the critical importance of advanced practice registered nurses to the health of US populations, work has taken place to standardize APRN education across all states through aligning education, scope of practice, credentialing and continuing education requirements following the US Consensus Model for APRN Education Keywords: advanced practice nursing, APN roles, doctor of nursing practice, US consensus model, transforming education 14 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) 'The Chal enge for Advanced Practice in a Covid World' JOHN WELLS Waterford Institute of Technology, School of Health Sciences, Waterford, Ireland E-mail: jswel s@wit.ie The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a process that was already underway before it arrived – namely the ubiquity of the digital exchange of misinformation about health related matters and its influence on trust in what might be termed 'official' public health information. One prominent area of mistrust and misinformation is centred around what is cal ed 'the anti-vax movement' which is influencing a significant minority of the population in a number of countries in relation to trust in vaccination. Whilst generally 'antivaxers' are lay people and therefore can be dismissed in terms of expertise, a smal number of influencers are from the health care professions, including nurses. This paper argues that nurses, and particularly in the context of advanced practice, need to be equipped with knowledge and skil s to directly confront misinformation and be seen as 'champions' of trustworthy public health information in a future in which zoonotic diseases are increasingly a significant chal enge for nursing practice. Keywords: health misinformation, networks, anti-vax, role challenge, advanced practice 16 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Implications of Demographic and Technological Changes for Health System and the Growing Role of Nurses EVA HELENA ZVER Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, Ljubljana, Slovenia E-mail: eva.zver@gov.si Population ageing and technological development is reflected in rising demand for health and long-term care services. With rising GDP per capita, people have also greater expectations regarding health care and access to new health technologies that expand treatment possibilities and improve the quality of services. The share of expenditure al ocated to cover the growing needs for health and longterm care services is expected to further grow in the future, notwithstanding the ongoing measures to improve the efficiency of the system. Within this context the advanced nursing practices is required to make best use of the resources available and enhance quality of health care delivery. Drawing on demographic changes and increasing pressure of chronic diseases, the presentation wil emphasize the importance of developing advance nursing practice in Slovenia. Keywords: demographic changes, chronic diseases, advance nursing practice, Slovenia, longterm care 18 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Chal enges of Further Development of Advanced Nursing Practice in the Covid-19 Post-epidemic Era TIT ALBREHT University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia E-mail: tit.albreht@um.si Modern societies are facing the chal enges of ageing, increased disability and frailty, while having to face the failure of the model of acute care to respond to al the chal enges. In Slovenia, the number of persons over 65 years of age grew by around one third in the last ten years. The system response was in a different approach to managing chronic diseases with registered nurses taking on yearly check-ups and lifestyle interventions. On the verge of the covid-19 pandemic the health system had its weak points in an indequate qualification structure in nursing homes and in a lack of a long-term care providing a range of services for the population needs. There was inadequate vertical coordination of care and insufficient support to patients when transitioning across different health states. 20 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. The epidemic unveiled problems of nurse staffing in hospitals as well as in nursing homes, inadequate infection control and lack of advanced nursing professionals at critical points. For the post-epidemic era it is important to secure quick access to diagnostics and care, to develop multidisciplinarity and multiprofessionalism at all levels, secure close col aboration between health and social sectors, tackle frailty and introduce case management of chronic patients as a rule. Hospitals wil need to enhance the approach to acute patients in securing more frequent day hospital care and support quick patient pathways. In view of such changed priorities, the role of advanced nursing practitioners becomes crucial in supporting the changes with enhanced skil s and practice. Keywords: covid-19, advanced nursing practice, health services, health system, health workforce ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS M. Pajnkihar & D. Vrbnjak (eds.) Presentation of Newly Developed Model for ANP Education in Slovenia and UM FHS Study Fields Integrated Treatment of Chronic Patients in Advanced Nursing Practice, Integrated Care for Older People in Advanced Nursing Practice and Mental Health in Advanced Nursing Practice MAJDA PAJNKIHAR & DOMINIKA VRBNJAK University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia E-mail: majda.pajnkihar@um.si, dominika.vrbnjak@um.si 22 ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE. Advanced nursing practice (ANP) is established and recognized for several decades in developed western countries. Following the example of international guidelines, educational programs are also being developed and implemented in neighbouring countries, such as Austria and Hungary. To address the need in society and the healthcare environment and the opportunity for the development of ANP, University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences (UM FHS) has as first in Slovenia developed an exemplar model for ANP to acquire advanced knowledge and practical skil s. The aim is, therefore, to present a newly developed model for ANP education and new study fields of postgraduate 2nd-degree study programme Nursing care at UM FHS. The new model for ANP education was developed based on analysis of 17 existing ANP study programmes in the US, UK, Ireland, Netherland, Sweden, Canada and international ANP publications and guidelines (e.g., OECD, Royall College of Nursing). The model was developed as a 2-year Master study program with 120 ECTS and includes four pillars: 1) clinical practice, 2) teaching and learning, 3) management and leadership and 4) evidence, research, and professional development. Curriculum includes fol owing core content: nursing science with theoretical foundations in nursing theory, research, evidence-based practice, advanced physiology and patophysiology, health aassessment and clinical decision-making skills/clinical reasoning, applied pharmacology, organisational, interpersonal, therapeutic and communication skil s, leadership and management for quality and safety of patients, public health prevention and health promotion. It includes 360-440 hours of clinical practice. In 2020/21 study year, first students were enrolled in a new study field Integrated care of chronic patients in advanced nursing practice at postgraduate 2nd-degree study programme Nursing care. Two other study Study Fields Integrated care for older people in advanced nursing practice and Mental health in advanced nursing practice are currently being developed. Curriculum and core competencies of al three study fields will be outlined. Keywords: advanced nursing practice, model, education, study programme, Slovenia ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR NURSING IN SLOVENIA, BOOK OF ABSTRACTS MAJDA PAJNKIHAR & DOMINIKA VRBNJAK University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia E-mail: majda.pajnkihar@um.si, dominika.vrbnjak@um.si Abstract First international Advanced Nursing Practice conference in Slovenia brought world leading academic scholars to exchange and share their experiences on Advance Nursing Practice (ANP) education and practice. Special emphasis wil be put on presentation of competencies, roles and scope of practice. Aim of our conference was to bring ANP education and especial y the nature of ANP practice closer to an academic and clinical environment as well to decision making bodies in government and other professional groups in Slovenia. Numerous studies have shown that advanced practice nurses can provide quality patient care by role extension or expansion, contribute to efficacy, cost efficiency, patient satisfaction, reduced (re)hospitalizations, and reduced mortality. Experts Keywords: advanced from countries where ANP is wel established and experts from nursing countries where ANP is in the beginning stages of development practice; participated in round table discussion. Conclusions of the round nursing; nurses; table discussion produced future direction for development of education; ANP in Slovenia. conference DOI https://doi.org/10.18690/978-961-286-499-6 ISBN 978-961-286-499-6