Primary Care Nursing: Latest Here
Are you looking forward to pursuing a career in nursing? Primary care nursing has been the most popular form of nursing with high demand because the demand for nurses increases as the population grows. Keep reading this blog to learn what primary care nursing entails, the roles, the skills required, and how to become one.
What is primary care nursing?
Primary care nursing is the first medical assistance you receive when visiting a healthcare facility. Primary care nurse deals with different areas of nursing as they focus on caring for patients with general illness and injuries rather than a specific illness. The nurses treat minor injuries and illness patients by administering preliminary procedures and preventative medicine.
Primary care nurses deal with common illnesses and diseases, including colds and flu, allergic reactions, and minor broken bones. They also help manage long-term illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Primary care nurses perform initial examinations of patients before seeing a doctor and also deal with illness prevention through vaccination and screening programs.
What is an example of primary nursing?
The general practitioner or primary care physician is the most common primary healthcare provider and has general knowledge of the patient’s illness. Several primary care providers act at the point of entry into the health system for referrals or advice. The Primary care nursing jobs are as follows;
- Obstetrician
- Nurse practitioner
- Paediatrician
- Family practice doctor
- Gynaecologist
- Primary care physician
- Internal medicine doctor
- Geriatrician
What is the role of primary nursing care?
Primary care nurses are based in healthcare centers or general practitioner’s offices and deal with scheduled patients and structured hours, unlike other nurses who deal with emergencies. They take basic examinations and recordings, measuring blood pressure, height, and weight. These nurses also provide direct patient care, which involves treating patients after initial diagnosis.
Primary care nurses see their patients regularly while undertaking health screenings and regular check-ups for patients with pre-existing conditions. They perform various tasks depending on their daily schedule. The role of nurses in primary care are as follows;
- Collaborating with specialists
Collaborating with a specialist to ensure your patient receives the best care would be best. For example, if a patient is weak and unable to complete daily activities, you can consult occupational or physical therapy.
- Preventative care
Primary care nurses are involved in preventative care and cancer screening. You should know which immunization your patients should receive and at what time. You also need to ensure that patients at high risk of diabetes have their kidney function and cholesterol monitoring. It would be best if you also determined when to start cancer screening and how often they should be done.
- Interpretation of diagnostic test
As a primary care nurse, you will order many diagnostic tests, such as imaging and lab tests, and you should then interpret the results and develop a treatment plan.
- Managing chronic illness
In primary care, you will manage chronic illnesses such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, etc. You should know how to assess, administer appropriate medication, and monitor lab values appropriately.
- Conducting head-to-toe assessments
You will need to complete patients’ comprehensive assessments throughout your day.
- Managing acute illness
As a primary care nurse, you will deal with acute illnesses such as urinary tract infections, rashes, upper respiratory infections, etc., and you should know how to manage them. You should assess, interpret the diagnostic test, develop a treatment plan, and do follow-ups.
Goals of primary care nursing
The main aim of primary care is to promote public health by providing access to medical care. It focuses on the entire body rather than a specific organ, disease, or system. The following are the goals of primary care nursing;
- To train leaders about effective healthcare
- To provide health care in a wider coverage
- To organize health services to meet patients’ needs
- To prevent social disparities
- To make health care part of public policy
- To increase the level of participation of patients, nurses, physicians, etc.
- To increase access to healthcare services
Primary care nursing skills
Primary care nurses cover various interpersonal, technical, and professional duties. The following are some of the skills required to work as a primary care nurse;
- Critical thinking
As a primary care nurse, you must think critically. A patient may have unique symptoms; hence you need critical thinking to decide on the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan based on symptoms or results.
- Teamwork
Teamwork with other nurses is essential in primary care. The primary nurse provides a treatment plan, education, results, etc., and you must teamwork with others to ensure the best patient care.
- Preventative care knowledge
Primary care nurses should know immunization schedules and preventative care. You should know when cancer screening starts, ensure that pediatrics are up-to-date on immunization, and that old adults are vaccinated based on their health and age.
- Communication skills
Communication is essential in primary care. It includes; scheduling appointments with staff, taking phone calls from patients, communicating with other nurses, and communicating with patients about their diagnostic tests, results, treatment plan, medication, and side effects.
- A desire for professional development
You must demonstrate professional development by continuing education through conferences, being active in a professional organization, reading journals, etc.
- Managing chronic illness knowledge
As a primary care nurse, you will manage many chronic illnesses. You must have knowledge and resources to provide the most current treatment and evidence-based practice.
Primary care nursing resources
Nurses have a variety of resources that helps them to provide the best care. In the university, nurses have access to the latest technology and research. Education does not end once you obtain a degree. You must keep your knowledge updated to succeed in nursing. You can advance your skills and knowledge through online platforms in the comfort of your home
The following are online resources that can keep your primary care nursing skills sharp;
- Clipboard Health
- American Academy of Nursing
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- American Nurse, International Council of Nurses (ICN)
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
- National League of Nursing (NLN)
- National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
- Nursing organization alliance (NOA)
How to become a primary care nurse?
To become a primary care nurse, first, you must acquire a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which will take four years of full-time study in a nursing school. Then you will need a Master of Science in Nursing, which will take two years of full-time study. If you want to advance, you will need a PhD. or DNP.
Obtain state licensure since you can’t work in primary care nursing without a license. Apply for primary care nursing jobs, continue learning to keep up with the latest patient and medical care, and become more competitive in the job market.
Understanding the primary nursing care model
The primary care nursing model is when a particular nurse is recognized as the primary caregiver to a patient during care. That nurse supervises nursing assistants and communicates with team members, the doctor, and the patient. This model enables the primary care nurse to utilize managerial ability, improve the delivery of patient care, and create a good relationship between caregivers and patients.
Adapting the model has challenges because nurses may work with time constraints due to nurse shortages; hence, they may be unable to practice interpersonal skills. As a primary care nurse, you must act as both a care manager and caregiver, which can be difficult to maintain.
The primary care model is resistant to change despite being able to solve many problems nurses face. The main goal for nurses is to establish interpersonal relationships with patients and their families. Primary care nursing promotes staff satisfaction and interactions and improves patient safety and outcomes.
Is primary care nursing stressful?
Primary care nursing can be stressful due to the number of patients you must see daily, managing multiple chronic illnesses, and remembering all suitable screenings. This stress can be relieved by technology which contains up-to-date resources with information about evidence-based practice and preventative screening medical records. You might also experience emotional stress from losing patients to cancer or communicating bad news to patients.
What are the 4 levels of primary health care?
Levels of care refer to the complexity of medical cases and the specialty and skills doctors require to handle them. There are four levels of primary healthcare; primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
- Primary
Primal care is given by general doctors who act as the first contact in non-emergency situations. At this level, nurses provide health promotion, health awareness, palliative care, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Primary healthcare doctors treat a wide range of illnesses to all kinds of patients and refer patients with severe illnesses to specialists.
- Secondary
Secondary healthcare is specialist care given to patients with severe health conditions such as broken bones, cancer, pneumonia, severe infection, etc. Primary care doctors refer patients to specialists such as cardiologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, pediatricians, etc.
- Tertiary
The tertiary level is a highly specialized system that provides advanced and complex treatment procedures for an extended period. They have modern specialized, complex equipment, specialized advanced diagnostic centers, and intensive care units handled by consultants. Examples are specialist cancer management, transplant services, complex surgical and medical procedure, etc.
- Quaternary
Quaternary health care is an advanced level of medicine and not easily accessible. Examples are experimental drugs and uncommon diagnostic and surgical procedures offered in a few national and international centers.
Bottom line
Primary care nursing is a rewarding career that involves diagnosing, preventing, and managing common health conditions and referring patients to specialists when needed. It requires extensive knowledge, interpersonal skills, and training. You have already learned what a career in primary care nursing entails; now it’s time to decide on the profession you want to pursue.
