Low recruitment of Saudi nationals into the nursing profession, coupled with a growing population, has led to a severe nursing shortage in Saudi Arabia, particularly of nurses with advanced qualifications in clinical nursing. While the role of nurse practitioner has been successfully integrated into the healthcare systems of the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia for decades, the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), which includes nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists, is still not being implemented effectively in Saudi Arabia due to a variety of regulatory, institutional and cultural barriers. The author looks at some of those barriers and offers recommendations of how they might be overcome. Given that in many parts of the world, nurse practitioners are considered an essential component to meeting healthcare demands, the author considers the question of whether APRNs can find a role in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system.

Background: During the postpartum period women are at critical risk for postpartum depression. However, with the continuous development of maternal health services this maternal mental health issue remains underdiagnosed. Aim: This study aimed to explore the barriers interfering with postpartum depression screening among postpartum women in the context of Saudi Arabia. Method: An interpretive phenomenological qualitative approach was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 10 nurses who work in postpartum units were interviewed face-to-face. Semi-structured interviews were employed, recorded and transcribed. Findings: Two main themes and sub-themes were derived from the data analysis of the interviews: personal barriers and fragmented care. Conclusion: The findings may aid in improving maternity health services in Saudi Arabia by establishing a postpartum depression screening programme and enhancing awareness among postpartum women so they can maintain their mental health. Keywords: Postpartum, depression, barriers, women, nurse