Mylene Telliez Gardoque

Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Reunion Island, Reunion

Abstract Title:

Advanced Practice Nurse Training in Reunion Island: A Three-Year Review and Transition to a Hybrid Model to Promote Territorial Equity in the Indian Ocean

Biography:

Mylene Telliez-Gardoque, Educational Coordinator of the APN master's program in Réunion Island since 2023, oversees the strategic deployment of this curriculum. Her expertise is based on her background as a clinical nurse, complemented by training engineering at IFSI and a master's degree in risk management. Today, she combines organizational rigor with clinical vision to ensure the program's academic excellence. Her goal is to adapt learning methods to the geographical and health challenges of the Indian Ocean, thus ensuring quality training for the French territories in the region.

Research Interests:

Background: Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) training program, established in 2023 in Reunion Island and Mayotte, awards a State Diploma recognized as a Master's degree. This program developed to improve healthcare access and support chronic disease management in Indian Ocean French overseas territories. The region faces a major healthcare gap between Réunion and Mayotte, compounded by a critical shortage of specialists and growing medical deserts in isolated areas. While advanced practice is a key lever for medical equity, insularity remains a structural barrier.
Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of the current in-person training model and justify the transition towards a blended learning model for territorial equity.
Mixed-methods: 
- Candidate withdrawal qualitative analysis of over last three application cycles.
- Teaching and internships satisfaction quantitative questionnaires through three (2023, 2024, 2025).
- Professional integration quantitative survey of the first graduating class (2025).
Results: Significant dropout rates was observed among candidates from Mayotte, primarily due to mobility challenges. Student satisfaction with the APN training in Reunion remained consistently high over three years. 93% of graduates secured professional positions within six months post-graduation. Student feedback highlighted quality of teaching, clinical challenges, financial and familial difficulties related to relocating for training.
Conclusions: 2026/2027 session will adopt a blended learning format to:
- Maintain pedagogical quality. - Neutralize geographical barriers.
- Encourage professional anchoring of APN in Mayotte from the training phase. Training quality measured by academic performances but also by adaptability to real-life challenges. Hybridisated program is a strategic lever to ensure healthcare access in Indian Ocean.

Key Words: Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Blended Learning, Territorial Equity, Insularity, Medical Deserts