Letting Advanced Practice Nursing Stall Would Be a ‘Missed Opportunity’ for Global Health, Says ICN Chief; Calls for Investment and Regulation 

International Council of Nurses (ICN) Chief Executive Howard Catton has warned that letting advanced practice nursing stall would be a “missed opportunity” for global health, calling for political commitment, investment and regulation to support its expansion. 

Speaking at the ICN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Catton said the roles can help address major healthcare challenges, including workforce shortages, chronic disease and gaps in access to care. He also highlighted the contribution of advanced practice nurses to prevention and primary care. 

Catton said nurses working at an advanced level can assess, diagnose, manage and coordinate care, while their nursing background supports prevention and a broader understanding of patients’ needs. He pointed to examples of practitioners expanding access for underserved communities and providing continuity of care for people living with multiple long-term conditions. 

He also linked the issue to wider pressures on healthcare. ICN noted that around half of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, while health systems face workforce shortages and growing needs linked to ageing populations, chronic diseases, multimorbidity and mental health. Catton said these pressures require care to move closer to communities, with greater emphasis on prevention and primary healthcare. 

The timing of his remarks also brought patient safety into focus. The keynote was delivered during World Patient Safety Day, whose 2026 theme was safe care for noncommunicable diseases. Catton said the evidence shows that advanced practice nursing can provide safe and effective care for people living with NCDs, including helping them manage their conditions, prevent deterioration and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. 

For advanced practice nursing, Catton said recognition alone is not enough. Countries need to invest in high-quality education, establish clear and consistent regulation, protect professional titles and define roles clearly. He also called for sustainable jobs, career pathways and leadership opportunities, together with working conditions that allow nurses in these roles to remain in the workforce and practise safely. 

Catton also pointed to evidence from major Cochrane reviews showing that advanced practice nurses can provide safe and effective nurse-led care, with strong health outcomes and patient satisfaction. He used international examples to show how these practitioners can bring services closer to communities, improve access for underserved populations and provide continuity for people living with multiple long-term conditions. 

The call comes as more countries establish advanced practice roles. The World Health Organization’s State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report introduced new indicators covering advanced practice nursing, education capacity and remuneration. ICN cited the report’s finding that 62% of participating countries had established such roles in 2023, up from 53% in 2020, while another 13% reported partially established roles. 

Despite that progress, ICN said nursing capability remains uneven between countries. Differences in education, professional recognition, regulation and scope of practice can affect whether qualified nurses are able to use their full capabilities. Catton called on governments and health-system leaders to move beyond recognising the roles and take the policy decisions needed to expand them. 

Catton also described advanced practice nursing as important to crisis preparedness and response. He said investment in education, leadership and preparedness can help nurses maintain essential services, protect communities and contribute to health-system recovery when emergencies occur. 

His message was therefore focused on what happens after countries recognise advanced roles. Education, regulation, employment, career development and leadership opportunities all form part of the support needed to expand these roles. Catton said this political commitment and investment are necessary to turn what he described as a missed opportunity into a global health priority. 

Source : https://www.nursinginpractice.com/latest-news/advanced-practice-nurses-are-a-global-health-priority-says-icn-chief-executive/