Where does practice nursing fit in primary health care?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Primary Health Care
• Community Health

Background:

• Practice nursing is an integral and expanding component of international primary health care.
• Its significance is increasingly recognized within the Australian healthcare system.
• The paper addresses the evolving nature of the practice nurse role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the potential for practice nursing as a specialty within community nursing.
• To explore boundary issues related to community nursing.
• To define the characteristics of practice nursing as a community-based model.

Main Methods:

• The paper incorporates personal reflections from the author's experience as a practice nurse.
• It involves a discussion of conceptual and definitional aspects of practice nursing.
• Analysis of the integration of health models within primary care settings.

Main Results:

• Practice nursing is identified as a dynamic entity with continuous evolution in primary care.
• Key considerations include its classification as a community nursing specialty and associated boundary issues.
• The evolving role necessitates a broader perspective beyond the traditional medical model.

Conclusions:

• Practice nursing is a vital and evolving component of primary health care.
• To align with primary health care objectives, practice nursing must integrate a social model of health with the existing medical model.
• Further research and scholarship are essential to support the advancement and integration of practice nursing.