Lessons learned from Saudi nurse academic leaders about advanced practice nursing roles: a qualitative approach

Abstract

Background

Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) is evolving across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the facilitators and barriers to APN programs and role implementation in the region. This study utilizes a descriptive exploratory qualitative approach to examine the perspectives of academic nurse leaders on APN in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This study used a descriptive qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 academic leaders from various academic institutions across Saudi Arabia over six months in 2022 and 2023 via Zoom. Audio recordings were transcribed using NVivo. Thematic analysis identified several key themes.

Results

The Description of APN theme highlighted specialized clinical skills, autonomous practice, and varied roles. The Needs theme emphasized improving patient outcomes, supporting healthcare transformation, and increasing cost-efficiency. The Current Status theme noted APN’s infancy and limited academic programs in Saudi Arabia. Differences in APN roles theme revealed specific functions and regional variations within the healthcare system. The Focus of APN Education theme emphasized the need for all specialties. Recommended admission requirements for the APN program included a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience. The Challenges theme included organizational and regulatory factors, such as organizational access to resources, and regulatory facilitators included supportive laws. The APN Future theme revealed an optimistic yet challenging outlook.

Conclusions

Academic nurse leaders consider APN essential for improving patient outcomes, requiring supportive laws, collaboration, expert involvement, and resource allocation to establish robust APN programs, offering insights for similar global contexts. This study identified challenges and facilitators of implementing APN roles and highlighted actionable steps for various stakeholders to enhance the integration of APNs. The perspectives of academic nurse leaders provide actionable recommendations to highlight the requirements for APN roles, admission to the educational programs, challenges and facilitators to assist APNs in practicing at their full potential, ultimately improving patient health outcomes by shaping the future of nursing education, practice, and regulation adjustments.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-025-02871-x.