An examination of the need for new nursing roles in primary health care

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the need for ‘new’ nursing roles in primary health care (PHC): the nurse practitioner and the public health nurse. This discussion is placed in the context of present changes in PHC and the tension between the individual focus, traditional in British PHC, and the community oriented approach. The concepts of holism, equality and autonomy are discussed in relation to the contribution of different PHC team members. The roles of nurse practitioner and public health nurse are then described in the context of World Health Organization statements regarding the future of PHC nursing. In conclusion it is suggested that while there may be a need for these new roles there is a prior need to assess the roles of current PHC nurses and the extent to which they are able presently to exercise the full range of their skills (holism), practice in equal partnership and with autonomy, There is a need to question to what extent skill constraint is a feature of PHC nursing practice.