Teaching Primary Health Nursing in the University of New Brunswick Screening Clinic

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (1978), primary health care is: Essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford.... Primary Health Care addresses the main health problems in the community, providing promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services accordingly. (p. 34) Baccalaureate nursing students must be prepared to assume changing roles in primary health care (Boudreau, 1972; New Brunswick Association of Registered Nurses, 1974). While primary health care is not a new area of responsibility for the community nurse, today's nursing students need better preparation to function on a first contact basis in an emerging health care system. The potential contribution of the nursing profession to the control of health care costs is obvious. Much nursing activity in primary health care should occur in the preventive realm with families who are seeking early assessment and referral. A baccalaureate nursing curriculum, which incorporates the above philosophy, provides an opportunity for faculty and students to experiment with new primary health nursing roles.