The future of nursing in the intensive care unit: specialist nurses versus advanced practice nurses

In Intensive Care Units (ICU), nurses are needed who can ensure that patients receive evidence-based care and interventions to optimise care; prevent patient deterioration; provide quality continuity of care and improve the cohesion of an interdisciplinary team. Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) are currently taking the lead to respond to this need.
However, it is urgent to clarify the role, training, and value of the APN in the ICU. Part of the problem lies in the variability of the names used to refer to the different APN profiles and the tendency to name "advanced practice" to all those that are emerging beyond the role of the traditional generalist nurse.
This special issue reflects the interest of the Spanish Society for Intensive Nursing and Intensive Care Units (SEEIUC) to clarify the role of APNs in the ICUs, and it is an opportunity to share projects and opinions on the subject. Submissions of different types of articles are encouraged, including original studies, clinical cases and literature reviews.
The focus should be on the role of the APNs in intensive care, although it can be approached from different perspectives and/or approaches, as long as it fits within the journal¿s aims and scope. Articles on types of advanced practice profiles, perception of the role from the team's perspective, factors influencing its implementation, implementation strategies, and evaluation of their impact are welcome.