A legal framework on advanced practice nursing in Belgium: what do we and don’t we know?

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Presenting the Belgian new framework for Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) – ‘Verpleegkundig Specialist [VS]’/”Infirmier de pratique avancée [IPA]” outlined in the Law of 22 April 2019, followed by a discussion of the lack of clarity, the current challenges and future opportunities.

Methods

The framework was analyzed by an expert in healthcare legislation and discussed by academics in Nursing Science and members of the board of directors of the Belgian Society of APN.

Results

Relevant paragraphs within this new law are

“Article 46 §1. No one is allowed to carry the title of ‘VS/IPA’ who does not possess a bachelor in nursing mentioned in article 45 and who does not meet the requirements specified in this article. At the minimum, a master's degree in Nursing Sciences is also required. §2. Additional to the scope of practice of nursing as mentioned in article 46, the ‘VS/IPA’ perform, in the context of complex nursing care, medical interventions in order to maintain, improve or restore the health of the patient. Care is provided in the context of a specific target group of patients and in close concertation with the physician and potential other healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Although the legal recognition of the title of VS/IPA is a major breakthrough that will innovate healthcare, clarification is needed: How do VS/IPA distinguish themselves from other nursing functions, what is complex nursing care, which medical interventions can be performed, what is meant by specific target group of patients, what does ‘in close concertation with the physician’ entail, and will advisory power be possible?

KEYWORDS:

• Legislation
• framework
• advanced practice nursing
• clinical nurse specialist
• nurse
• practitioner

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.