Rethinking primary care: connections to nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Primary Health Care
• Global Health

Background:

• Fundamental values of primary care align with nursing values.
• Nursing practice within primary care settings is often not recognized as nursing.
• Existing conceptualizations may limit the integration of nursing's full potential in primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the thematic connections between primary care and nursing.
• To propose a reconceptualization of primary care through a nursing lens.
• To illustrate primary care as nursing with a case example from the Philippines.

Main Methods:

• Thematic analysis of primary care and nursing literature.
• Conceptual exploration and synthesis.
• Case study presentation of a Philippine primary care nursing initiative.

Main Results:

• Primary care and nursing share core values focused on holistic patient well-being and community health.
• Reconceptualizing primary care as nursing emphasizes the distinct contributions and expertise of nurses.
• The Philippine village case demonstrates a successful model of integrated primary care nursing.

Conclusions:

• Primary care can be effectively conceptualized and practiced as nursing.
• Recognizing primary care as nursing strengthens the role of nurses in delivering comprehensive health services.
• This reconceptualization has implications for nursing education, policy, and global primary health care.