Introduction
Ireland’s healthcare system is rapidly evolving, and one role experiencing exceptional growth is the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). Over the last decade, ANP posts have expanded across emergency departments, chronic disease services, mental health, paediatrics, primary care, and community settings. The demand for ANPs continues to rise in 2025, driven by demographic changes, workforce shortages, and national policy reform. This article explores why the need for ANPs is increasing and what this means for the future of nursing and patient care in Ireland.
What Is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner?
An ANP is a highly trained, autonomous clinician who practices at an advanced level. ANPs can:
• Assess and diagnose patients
• Manage caseloads independently
• Prescribe medications
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Lead service improvements
• Provide specialist and advanced interventions
Their scope of practice blends clinical expertise, leadership, education, and research. ANPs play a key role in delivering safe, rapid, and patient-centred care across the entire health service.
1. Rising Healthcare Demand Due to an Ageing Population
Ireland’s population is ageing faster than ever before. The number of people aged 65+ is projected to double over the next 20 years. With ageing comes a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as:
• Diabetes
• COPD
• Heart failure
• Dementia
• Musculoskeletal conditions
ANPs specialise in chronic disease management, helping prevent hospital admissions and providing continuity of care across multiple settings. Their ability to intervene early reduces pressure on emergency departments and inpatient services.
2. Shortages in Medical and Consultant Staffing
Ireland continues to face significant consultant shortages, especially in:
• Emergency medicine
• Psychiatry
• Paediatrics
• Community and integrated care
• Chronic disease programmes
ANPs help fill critical service gaps by taking on complex clinical workloads, supporting triage, delivering minor injury and illness services, and managing patient pathways. While ANPs do not replace doctors, they complement them and improve team capacity.
3. Growth of Community and Primary Care Services
Sláintecare reforms aim to shift care from hospitals into the community, promoting:
• Community intervention teams
• Chronic disease hubs
• Primary care centres
• Community paramedicine
• Integrated older persons services
ANPs are central to these models. Their advanced diagnostic skills allow patients to be managed safely closer to home, reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
4. Demand for Faster Access and Reduced Waiting Times
Ireland’s waiting lists remain among the longest in Europe. ANPs help:
• Deliver rapid access clinics
• Reduce waiting times for diagnostics
• Improve patient flow
• Prevent unnecessary hospital admissions
• Manage minor injuries, orthopaedic issues, urology symptoms, and more
ANP-led clinics often see patients faster than traditional consultant-led pathways, easing pressure on acute hospitals.
5. Enhanced Patient Satisfaction and Outcomes
Evidence consistently shows that ANP-led care:
• Improves patient satisfaction
• Reduces length of stay
• Enhances continuity of care
• Delivers equal or better clinical outcomes compared to traditional models
Patients value having timely access to a highly skilled clinician who can make decisions promptly and holistically.
6. Expansion of Specialist Roles and Advanced Practice Pathways
The HSE has significantly expanded ANP posts under national workforce plans. Between 2017 and 2025, there has been strong growth in:
• ANPs
• Candidate ANPs (cANPs)
• Specialist teams led by ANPs
• Community-based ANP services
• Emergency department ANP posts
• Mental health ANPs
• Integrated care ANPs
Universities and training programmes have also expanded MSc programmes to support this growing demand.
7. ANPs Support Healthcare Transformation Under Sláintecare
Sláintecare prioritises:
• Better access
• Community-led services
• Innovation
• Multidisciplinary working
• Reduced hospital dependency
ANPs align perfectly with these goals by providing advanced clinical care, improving patient flow, and supporting long-term service redesign.
8. ANPs Strengthen Clinical Leadership Within Nursing
The growth of ANPs is also transforming nursing leadership. ANPs are:
• Decision-makers
• Educators
• Researchers
• Innovators
• Clinical leaders
They contribute significantly to service design, clinical governance, policy development, and quality improvement.
Future Outlook
Demand for ANPs will continue to rise across 2025–2030 as Ireland transitions towards a more integrated healthcare system. ANPs will play a major role in chronic disease management, urgent care, primary care, mental health, and older persons services. For nurses seeking advanced autonomy, clinical leadership, and meaningful patient impact, the ANP pathway offers strong career progression and long-term security.
