[Advanced practice nursing as a complement to primary care physician practice]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Primary Care
• Health Services Research

Context:

• The integration of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) into primary care systems is a growing area of interest globally.
• France's healthcare system is exploring new models for multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Physician perspectives on the scope of practice for APNs are crucial for successful implementation.

Purpose:

• To explore the feasibility of APNs managing a portion of primary care consultations in France.
• To identify the types of patient cases suitable for APN-led care within a primary care setting.
• To assess the potential for APNs to deliver parallel therapeutic education.

Summary:

• A retrospective study analyzed 396 primary care consultations recorded by 9 physicians.
• Findings suggest that over 22% of these consultations could potentially be managed by APNs.
• Approximately 60% of these APN-suitable consultations were related to parallel therapeutic education.

Impact:

• This study provides evidence supporting the integration of APNs into French primary care.
• It highlights specific areas, like therapeutic education, where APNs can contribute effectively.
• The findings can inform policy and practice regarding the development of multiprofessional primary care teams.