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Objective: this paper aims to describe the first phase of a project whose general goal was to develop a consensus-based set of advanced practice nurse competencies applicable to Latin American countries and, based on these competencies, produce an advanced practice nurse curricular prototype adapted to Latin American countries. The project was framed in a competency-based approach to advanced practice nursing education. The specific aims of the first phase of the project described in this paper were: 1) to identify a set of potential advanced practice nurse competencies that would serve as the template for Core Advanced Practice Nurse Competencies in Latin American countries and 2) to establish consensus for Core Advanced Practice Nurse Competencies in Latin American countries. Method: advanced practice nurse competencies were derived from a comprehensive review of published competencies and informed the development of a survey designed to assess the relevance of advanced practice nurse competencies in Latin American countries. The survey was distributed to nurse leaders and nurse educators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: consensus for Core Competencies was established. Conclusion: the Core Advanced Practice Nurse Competencies presented can provide a structured framework to build educational programs aligned to the needs of the regional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a review of the research findings documented in literature about factors associated with academic scores in college students and their relationship with the quality of higher education in general, using as a reference studies carried out in Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Costa Rica. These factors are grouped in three categories: personal determinants, social determinants, and institutional determinants that, at the same time, hold their own indicators. Emphasis is given to the fact that the search for educational quality is a desired good for different sectors of society, and for which universities fight from different fields, with major concerns in the public sector due to the investment involved. The search for quality implies ah integral review of the university that includes studies about the academic results of students, because those results are an important input and allow the identification of limiting and enabling elements of academic performance and, consequently, facilitate the control of public resources and the social impact mediation. The analysis of the educational quality must include research results about the academic results of the students since it is of great use in the decision making process aiming for a more fair educational system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]