Introduction:

The implementation of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a strategy aimed at enhancing and improving access to high quality salud para todos. This strategy is led by accredited nursing professionals who are specialists in the clinical and direct attention areas and who, among other activities, make diagnoses, provide treatments, and manage the follow up of patients.

Objective:

To reflect on the barriers and opportunities regarding the incorporation of the Advanced Practice Nursing professional role in Chile.

Development:

Considering that universal access to high quality healthcare is a key goal, efforts have been made on the improvement of primary healthcare sector and on the development of non-medical highly skilled professionals such as the Advanced Practice Nurses. While the Pan American Health Organization fosters this strategy, diverse barriers are still identified in the development of the APN role. Some of these barriers include the current health legislations and the scant academic institutions which can offer the corresponding program.

Conclusion:

A joint effort is needed to address the related barriers and gaps in order to establish a context which can allow the implementation of the Advanced Practice Nurse role in Chile.