scholarly journals Primary health care and general practice nurses: What is the nexus?

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Patterson ◽  
Kay Price ◽  
Desley Hegney
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Preventive Health Care ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Therapeutic Procedures

This paper presents the findings from three separate qualitative studies that sought to explore the current and potential role of nurses employed in general medical practices in Australia. General practitioners', practice nurses' and consumers' views and perceptions were gathered from individual and group interviews. The data indicate that practice nurses (PNs) are involved in first level or primary care of individuals and engage in some form of preventive health care. Some PNs have a family/community focus in addition to their focus of care on individuals. Engagement in health promotion was found to be opportunistic rather than planned, and focussed on interventions to free individuals from medically defined diseases - the aim being compliance with therapeutic procedures and advice. The broader concept of health promotion, as documented in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, was not pronounced in the PNs' reported practice. Consumers do not articulate confidence in PNs acting autonomously as primary health care practitioners but rather as complementary to general practitioners (GPs), undertaking initial assessment for triage purposes and providing ongoing management, education and support under the GPs' delegation. They would also like them to be family-oriented and holistic in their practice; supporting emotional and social needs in the context of their family lives.

scholarly journals Role Identification: an Impediment to Effective Core Primary Health Care Teamwork?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jean Ross
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Attitudinal Differences ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Future

<p>This study, which is methodologically grounded in qualitative research and philosophically informed by critical social science, explores important aspects of the socio-political context in which practice nurses and general practitioners (core primary health care team) work within a team environment. It is indicated in the literature that there are benefits for improved health care through the development of collaborative teamwork. However, there have been many barriers identified which prevent collaborative teamwork. Amongst the many barriers, is the lack of role clarity and attitudinal differences. Role clarity and attitudinal differences are the topic of this thesis. This thesis explored and highlighted whether the lack of role clarity and attitudinal differences do indeed impede the team's success, and are barriers to teamwork. The views and opinions of practice nurses and general practitioners understanding of their own and each other's current roles within the general practice setting were explored. The participants had the opportunity to discuss together, in focus group meetings, their thoughts on the topic. This raised their awareness of their taken for granted ideas on role and teamwork. Focus groups offered the participants the added opportunity to question each other which allowed for a deeper and more fulfilling understanding of role. New understandings that emerged could lead to alternative models of health care and influence the future delivery and planning of general practice. The thesis concludes by offering a potentially suitable model/framework which has been developed to further the understanding of teamwork in the future.</p>

scholarly journals Role Identification: an Impediment to Effective Core Primary Health Care Teamwork?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jean Ross
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Attitudinal Differences ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Future

<p>This study, which is methodologically grounded in qualitative research and philosophically informed by critical social science, explores important aspects of the socio-political context in which practice nurses and general practitioners (core primary health care team) work within a team environment. It is indicated in the literature that there are benefits for improved health care through the development of collaborative teamwork. However, there have been many barriers identified which prevent collaborative teamwork. Amongst the many barriers, is the lack of role clarity and attitudinal differences. Role clarity and attitudinal differences are the topic of this thesis. This thesis explored and highlighted whether the lack of role clarity and attitudinal differences do indeed impede the team's success, and are barriers to teamwork. The views and opinions of practice nurses and general practitioners understanding of their own and each other's current roles within the general practice setting were explored. The participants had the opportunity to discuss together, in focus group meetings, their thoughts on the topic. This raised their awareness of their taken for granted ideas on role and teamwork. Focus groups offered the participants the added opportunity to question each other which allowed for a deeper and more fulfilling understanding of role. New understandings that emerged could lead to alternative models of health care and influence the future delivery and planning of general practice. The thesis concludes by offering a potentially suitable model/framework which has been developed to further the understanding of teamwork in the future.</p>

scholarly journals Teamwork – general practitioners and practice nurses working together in New Zealand

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Finlayson ◽  
Antony Raymont
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Primary Health

INTRODUCTION: Teamwork in primary health care has been encouraged in New Zealand and in the international literature. It may improve work satisfaction for staff, and satisfaction and outcomes for patients. Teamwork may be classified as being multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary and is likely to be influenced by the nature of the work and the organisational context. AIM: To describe and analyse teamwork between general practitioners and practice nurses in New Zealand. METHODS: Data were drawn from a survey of general practices and from interviews with primary health care staff and management. RESULTS: Doctors and nurses in general practice in New Zealand see themselves as a team. Evidence suggests that the nature of the work and the business context most often leads to a multidisciplinary style of teamwork. Some providers have adopted a more intense teamwork approach, often when serving more disadvantaged populations or in caring for those with chronic illnesses. DISCUSSION: Concepts of teamwork differ. This article provides a classification of teams and suggests that most general practice teams are multidisciplinary. It is hoped that this will help personnel to communicate their expectations of a team and encourage progressive team development where it would be of value. KEYWORDS: Teamwork; primary care; practice nurses; general practitioners

Dilemmas at a Primary Health Care Center: a baseline study for Computer-Supported Cooperative Health Care Work

1992 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Timpka ◽  
J. M. Nyce
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Group Process ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Work Activity ◽  
Health Care Center ◽  
Health Care Work ◽  
Primary Health

Abstract:For the development of computer-supported cooperative health care work this study investigated, based upon activity theory, daily dilemmas encountered by the members of interprofessional primary health care work groups. The entire staff at four Swedish primary health care centers were surveyed, 199 personal interviews being conducted by the Critical Incident Technique. Medical dilemmas were mainly reported by general practitioners and nurses, organizational dilemmas by laboratory staff, nurses’ aides, and secretaries, and dilemmas in the patient-provider relation by nurses, nurses’ aides, and secretaries. Organizational and communication dilemmas reported by nurses, nurses’ aides, and secretaries often had their cause outside the control of the individual professional. These dilemmas were often “caused” by other group members (general practitioners or nurses), e.g., by not keeping appointment times or by not sharing information with patients. The implication for computer-supported cooperative health care work is that computer support should be planned on two levels. Collective work activity as a whole should benefit from individual clinical decision support for general practitioners and nurses. However, since most patient communication and organizational problems occurred at group level, group process support is required in these areas.

Preparing nurses for primary health care futures: how well do Australian nursing courses perform?

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Keleher ◽  
Rhian Parker ◽  
Karen Francis
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Curriculum Reform ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Educational Preparation ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Prevention And Health Promotion

Health reform is increasingly targeted towards strengthening and expansion of primary health systems as care is shifted from hospitals to communities. The renewed emphasis on prevention and health promotion is intended to curb the tide of chronic disease and sustain effective chronic disease management, as well as address health inequities and increase affordable access to services. Given the scope of nurses’ practice, the success of Australia’s health system reforms are dependent on a nursing workforce that is appropriately educated and prepared for practice in community settings. This article reports on the results of an Australian national audit of all undergraduate nursing curricula to examine the extent of professional socialisation and educational preparation of nurses for primary health care. The results of the audit are compared with Australian nursing standards associated with competency in primary health care. The findings indicate that Australian nursing competencies are general in their approach to skills and knowledge, not specifying any particular competencies for primary health care, while undergraduate student preparation for practice in primary health and community settings is patchy and not keeping pace with reform agendas that promote expanded roles for nurses in primary health care, prevention and health promotion. The implication for nursing curriculum reform is that attention to achieving nursing graduate capacity for primary health care and health promotion is a priority.

scholarly journals Using logic models to enhance the methodological quality of primary health-care interventions: guidance from an intervention to promote nutrition care by general practitioners and practice nurses

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Ball ◽  
Dianne Ball ◽  
Michael Leveritt ◽  
Sumantra Ray ◽  
Clare Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Logic Model ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Nutrition Care ◽  
Health Care Interventions ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Care Practitioners ◽  
Logic Models

The methodological designs underpinning many primary health-care interventions are not rigorous. Logic models can be used to support intervention planning, implementation and evaluation in the primary health-care setting. Logic models provide a systematic and visual way of facilitating shared understanding of the rationale for the intervention, the planned activities, expected outcomes, evaluation strategy and required resources. This article provides guidance for primary health-care practitioners and researchers on the use of logic models for enhancing methodological rigour of interventions. The article outlines the recommended steps in developing a logic model using the ‘NutriCare’ intervention as an example. The ‘NutriCare’ intervention is based in the Australian primary health-care setting and promotes nutrition care by general practitioners and practice nurses. The recommended approach involves canvassing the views of all stakeholders who have valuable and informed opinions about the planned project. The following four targeted, iterative steps are recommended: (1) confirm situation, intervention aim and target population; (2) document expected outcomes and outputs of the intervention; (3) identify and describe assumptions, external factors and inputs; and (4) confirm intervention components. Over a period of 2 months, three primary health-care researchers and one health-services consultant led the collaborative development of the ‘NutriCare’ logic model. Primary health-care practitioners and researchers are encouraged to develop a logic model when planning interventions to maximise the methodological rigour of studies, confirm that data required to answer the question are captured and ensure that the intervention meets the project goals.

scholarly journals The National Mental Health Strategy: Redefining Promotion and Prevention in Mental Health?

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
Health Prevention ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
National Mental Health

This paper explores policy documents published as part of the National Mental Health Strategy for ideas about mental health promotion and prevention, to determine the extent to which these documents adopt a primary health care approach. Discourse analysis was undertaken of key policy documents to discover the manner in which they discuss mental health promotion and prevention. Three points of departure are identified. The first of these is a focus on social and biological risk factors that manifest at an individual rather than at a social level, effectively drawing attention away from social inequalities. These documents also primarily target a population that is viewed as being "at risk" due to exposure to risk factors, shifting attention from strategies aimed at improving the health of the population as a whole. A final difference is found in the understanding of primary health care. Recent policy documents equate primary health care with the first level of service delivery in the community, primarily by general practitioners, shifting the focus of care from mental health promotion with the community to early intervention with those experiencing mental health problems. This is supported by the incorporation of a biomedical understanding into mental health prevention. While recent mental health policy documents re-assert the need for early intervention and health prevention, the form of mental health prevention espoused in these documents differs from that which informed the Declaration of Alma Alta, Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and World Health Organization's Health for All strategy.

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