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Aims: This study aimed to delineate the relationships between actors and contextual factors associated with the development of the advanced practice role in Catalonia. Methods: A complementary data analysis was conducted based on the social network analysis (SNA) method. The primary study design was qualitative, descriptive and explanatory. Participants from diverse perspectives of practice, organization and external environment were engaged to participate in semi‐structured focus groups. Data collection was conducted between March and May 2016 in Catalonia, Spain. Participants were asked to report on various dimensions of the role development context: understanding of the role, felt needs, perceived outcomes, barriers and facilitators. Results: Primary data analysis performed for 44 participants identified 71 related contextual factors associated with role development. Complementary network analysis revealed multiple relationships and agreements among participants and context‐related themes. Professional roles and disciplines clustered around topics show consensus and the significance of topics. Conclusion: Understanding the level of interactions and consensus among participants and contextual factors will ultimately allow better insight into how complex contexts influence the development of advanced practice nursing in healthcare organizations. Significant, consensual contextual factors should be used to influence further development and implementation of new roles that affect patient care and outcomes. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Comprehensive understanding of context at various levels should generate greater knowledge about what affects advanced practice role development locally and globally.What this paper adds? Findings could help organizations to make sense of the full dimension of context and to predict or act on development of advanced practice nursing roles.The implications of this paper: Significant, consensual contextual factors should be used to influence further development and implementation of new roles that affect patient care and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]