Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40016723›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

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

Hamza Moafa, Monir M Almotairy, Ahmed Nahari, Arwa Alhamed, Ahmad E Aboshaiqah, Essa Hakamy, Omar Qaladi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hamza Moafa *Department of Community and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. hmoafa@ksu.edu.sa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3611-2050
Monir M Almotairy *Department of Nursing Administration and Education, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9770-6744
Ahmed NahariDepartment of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3068-8443
Arwa AlhamedCollege of Nursing, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8008-8705
Ahmad E AboshaiqahDepartment of Nursing Administration and Education, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4734-0251
Essa HakamyDepartment of Nursing Administration and Education, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0592-8858
Omar QaladiDepartment of Community and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8681-1562

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdvanced 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.

methodsThis 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.

resultsThe 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.

conclusionsAcademic 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.

Indexed as

Advanced practice nursingNurse practitionerSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID40016723
PMCPMC11866892

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.