Although there is a long history of advanced nursing practice in the UK, without registration it is difficult to ensure that all staff who regard themselves as advanced practitioners have the necessary clinical acumen.

This article explores how a capability-based training programme was developed for one advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in the care of older people in a community healthcare NHS trust. It also considers whether the programme could be replicated for other clinicians wishing to train for a specific advanced practice role.

The programme was developed as part of a service improvement project and used work-based practice to identify the clinician’s learning needs. Various learning tools were used and the trainee ANP recorded their development in a portfolio of work including reflections and clinical summaries. The main direction for learning was through the use of a written programme guide that set out benchmarks to be achieved during the two-year programme. The trainee ANP met the requirements of the programme and was appointed to a senior ANP post at the end of the two years.

There is merit in using a standardised capability-based training programme when developing advanced practitioners. Standardisation allows an organisation to ensure that advanced practitioners can provide an appropriate level of clinical practice to older patients with complex needs.