Implementing the nurse practitioner role in Oman: Implications for policymaking

Zeyana A Al Ismaili; Madrean Schober; Faye Gary; Mary A Dolansky; Majid Al-Maqbali; Salem Al Touby; Suad M Al Junaibi

doi:10.1111/inr.12913

Implementing the nurse practitioner role in Oman: Implications for policymaking

Int Nurs Rev. 2023 Dec 6. doi: 10.1111/inr.12913. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zeyana A Al Ismaili^{1

2}, Madrean Schober³, Faye Gary^{1

4

5}, Mary A Dolansky^{1

6

7

8}, Majid Al-Maqbali⁹, Salem Al Touby¹⁰, Suad M Al Junaibi²

Affiliations

¹ Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
² Nursing Program-Muscat, Oman College of Health Sciences, Oman.
³ Schober Global Healthcare Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, Cleveland, USA.
⁴ Distinguished University Professor and the Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair & Professor of Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
⁶ Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
⁷ QSEN Institute, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
⁸ Veteran Administration Quality Scholars Program, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, USA.
⁹ General Directorate Health Services, Ministry of Health, Al Buraimi, Oman.
¹⁰ College of Health Sciences, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman.

PMID: 38058021
DOI: 10.1111/inr.12913

Abstract

Background: In Oman, limited access to adequately prepared healthcare providers in primary healthcare threatens the provision of quality care to patients and families and access to healthcare services. Nurse practitioners (NP) are in an excellent position to address safety issues and ensure quality healthcare with their advanced nursing skills, knowledge, and acumen for acceptable cultural and religious practices.

Aims: To explain Oman's national strategic plans, processes, challenges, opportunities, and both regional and global implications for the facilitation of NP role implementation and policies.

Sources of evidence: The Nursing and Midwifery Human Resources framework guided the NP implementation project. Guided by the framework, the World Health Organization and the Omani Ministry of Health conducted multiple situational analyses (2004-2016). Later, the NP role was planned and implemented in Oman. During and after implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NP role implementation were continuously conducted using multiple focus groups, individual interviews, and field visits.

Discussion: The NP role implementation revealed multiple challenges and opportunities that either hinder or support NP role implementation. Additionally, the NP implementation project revealed various lessons learned.

Implications for nursing and health policy: National and global nursing leaders and health policymakers should collaborate to discuss NP issues, especially NP role sustainability, legal approval and recognition, prescriptive authority, title protection, practice acts, and professional regulation.

Conclusion: This paper informs nursing leaders and policymakers in the Middle East and other countries in the global community about Oman's experience regarding NP role implementation.

Keywords: Advanced practice nurses; Oman; nurse practitioners; nursing leadership; nursing policy; role implementation.