From understanding how the changing seasons affect patient presentation in emergency departments to exploring the ways APRN scope of practice varies around the world, the APRN sessions at Emergency Nursing 2026 in Phoenix will give attendees a new and deeper view into advanced practice nursing.
Walter Sergio Lugari, MSHS, RN, FKP-NP, APN, GCNC
Global Perspectives
As the emergency nursing specialty grows worldwide, it’s more important than ever to understand how advanced practice nursing rules and regulations vary between countries to avoid confusion and provide the highest level of patient safety. The session “Navigating Uncharted Waters: Scope of Practice in Advanced Nursing Worldwide” aims to help attendees understand exactly that.
“We want to shine a light on what the differences are, not only within the U.S., because the U.S. also has very varying scope of practice for advanced practice nurses, but also outside of the U.S.,” said session co-presenter Walter Sergio Lugari, MSHS, RN, FKP-NP, APN, GCNC, an advanced practice nurse based in Germany .
For instance, prescribing authority varies widely around the world.
“Within the U.S., some states allow full prescription authority, while in Germany, that is unthinkable,” said Lugari. “If we look towards another countries, like Finland and Ireland, there are nurses that are not advanced practice nurses that do have prescription authority. You have this broad spectrum.”
During the session, attendees will learn about how advanced practice knowledge, regulation and role recognition varies in different countries; discuss international evidence on nursing scope of practice and regulation; and explore national frameworks for emergency nurse specialists and those in advanced practice roles.
Julia Ponder, DNP, APRN-CNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-C, CEN, FAANP
“Hopefully, they will have a better understanding of the rules and regulations of their practice, be able to speak strongly about it, and optimize their ability to practice to the full extent of their education and license,” said session co-presenter Julia Ponder, DNP, APRN-CNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-C, CEN, FAANP. “This isn’t just about U.S. practice. This is about practice around the world.”
Stop and Think
Another element of successful APRN practice is understanding the way patient complaints can change throughout the year, from fall respiratory ailments to summer heatstroke and everything in between.
That’s what Ponder will discuss during her session, “A Year in Practice: Seasonal Presentations Every Advanced Practice Provider Should Master.” The session will review common conditions that patients experience throughout the four seasons, such as skeletal injuries from falling on ice in the winter and seasonal allergies in the spring. It will also discuss how APRNs should properly evaluate and manage patients according to practice guidelines, including considerations about antibiotic stewardship and symptom management.
Ponder said the session will give attendees a chance to “refresh” their knowledge of these common conditions, as well as invite them to “stop and think” about how they approach them.
Walter Sergio Lugari and Julia Ponder will discuss how the advanced practice nursing rules and regulations vary between countries at their session “Navigating Uncharted Waters: Scope of Practice in Advanced Nursing Worldwide”
“Often we get so tied up in the day to day that we don’t take a step back and look at the overall picture. It’s an opportunity to stop and do that,” she said.
The DNP Experience
For attendees who are considering, are currently pursuing, or have recently completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, head over to the DNP Panel, where DNP program faculty, currently practicing DNPs and new grads will be on hand to talk about their experiences and answer questions about their roles.
Attendees may ask panelists about their personal and professional journeys, educational experiences, advice for overcoming challenges, leadership paths and more. The session will wrap up with key insights for attendees as they start or continue their DNP journeys.
“It is an open question-and-answer panel to the audience,” said Ponder, who is serving as session moderator. “The goal of this panel is to give the audience what they need.”