The IAANMP Educational Pathways Survey provides a national snapshot of advanced nursing and midwifery practitioners’ educational attainment, leadership confidence, and perspectives on doctoral-level progression. A total of 205 respondents participated, the majority of whom were Registered Advanced Nurse or Midwife Practitioners working in patient-facing roles.

Respondents demonstrated a high level of academic achievement, with most holding a Master’s degree and a small but notable cohort having completed doctoral-level education. Despite this strong educational foundation, intention to pursue QQI Level 10 education was mixed. While a proportion expressed interest in doctoral study, almost half were uncertain, reflecting ambivalence rather than clear opposition to further academic progression.

Self-assessment of the six domains of advanced practice revealed strong confidence in clinical decision-making, professional values, communication, and knowledge-based competencies. In contrast, leadership and professional scholarship emerged as comparatively weaker domains, echoing qualitative comments that highlighted limited preparation, opportunity, and organisational recognition for leadership development within current roles.

Encouragingly, most respondents felt qualified to support the progression of nurses from graduate to advanced practice level. However, many identified a lack of organisational support, protected time, and structured leadership development pathways as barriers to fully realising this role. These findings underline the informal nature of leadership expectations placed on ANPs and AMPs, often without corresponding educational or institutional scaffolding.

Barriers to doctoral education were multifactorial. Time constraints, lack of funding, insufficient employer support, and the absence of tangible career or financial incentives were the most frequently cited challenges. Many respondents questioned the return on investment of doctoral study, particularly in the context of unchanged remuneration, limited role expansion, and ongoing restrictions on autonomous practice, such as access to radiological investigations.

Preferences for QQI Level 10 pathways were diverse. While some favoured traditional PhD routes, a larger proportion expressed interest in clinically focused or professional doctorate models. A substantial number also reported uncertainty regarding available options, signalling a need for clearer national guidance on doctoral pathways aligned to advanced clinical and leadership practice.

Overall, the survey highlights a highly educated and clinically confident advanced practice workforce that is motivated to lead but constrained by systemic, organisational, and structural barriers. The findings strongly support the need for nationally coordinated leadership development, clearer doctoral pathways, and meaningful recognition of advanced and doctoral-level practice within Irish healthcare structures.