Annabella Gloster and colleagues investigated how nurses in advanced practitioner roles apply their learning in the workplace

A master of science degree course in advanced practice (health and social care) was launched at the University of Salford in 2005 to prepare students for advanced practice roles as part of a workforce modernisation strategy for the north west of England. The development needs of qualified advanced practitioners (APs) and the effects of their roles on service outcomes are difficult to capture; therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the longer term effects of the programme and address some of these gaps in knowledge. This article reports the results of the study, which focused on the effects of education in the workplace and found that APs apply their learning in the workplace and can demonstrate its impact on services. Results also suggest that APs are more effective when they have supportive managers with a clear vision for the role in a service area and who develop the roles based on skill and service need.