Unlocking the potential of primary healthcare nurse practitioners globally: A concept analysis of their added value

Background: Primary healthcare nurse practitioners (PHCNPs) are expanding globally to meet rising healthcare demands. Despite positive outcomes, their added value remains underexplored. Purpose: To clarify and refine the added value PHCNPs bring. Methods: Building on a previous concept analysis of the added value of nurse practitioners, we analyzed 37 systematic reviews focusing on PHCNPs' roles across various settings, using Rodgers' evolutionary approach. Findings: Attributes include PHCNPs' skills and competencies, activities, positive outcomes, and professional autonomy. Antecedents involve PHCNP characteristics and structural and institutional factors, while consequences highlight improved patient outcomes, satisfaction, professional dynamics, and system efficiency. Discussion: Understanding PHCNPs' added value is crucial for policy development, role implementation, and healthcare optimization. Clear regulatory frameworks and supportive policies are needed to maximize their impact. Conclusion: This analysis provides and updates the conceptual definition of PHCNPs' added value, offering insights for policy, education, and research to support their critical role in healthcare. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).