國際專科護理師的執業範疇

The role/function and scope of practice of the nurse practitioner are associated strongly with the healthcare delivery system, which, in turn, is related to the structure of the population, societal patterns, the environment, and individuals’ lifestyles and diseases. The position of nurse practitioner was developed to meet the needs of the healthcare system, and their role/function and scope of practice vary by geographic area and hospital regulations. This article presents the development of the nurse practitioner role/function and scope in different countries as well as the trend toward the international development of nurse practitioners. In the future, we will likely see multiple role/functions of nurse practitioners and the expansion of the scope of practice, as conducted in a variety of settings. Thus, to provide high quality care, nurse practitioners need to have not only professional knowledge and nursing skills but also coping skills, learning capability, and the ability to meet the challenges of an unpredictable healthcare system.