Role Transition in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care Nursing: A Scoping Literature Review

Abstract

In order to align health services with population health needs, health authorities in sparsely populated rural and northern Canada are exploring how to better organize and deliver primary health care (PHC) services. A significant component of PHC innovation involves changes to the roles, work settings, and practice modes of registered nurses. While many studies have identified the need to revise nursing roles, few have examined the transition itself. The authors present the findings of a scoping literature review examining the transition of nursing roles in PHC, with a focus on rural and remote settings. Their review of 69 articles provides clear examples of the process of role transition and key professional and organizational issues, while also identifying the supports needed to change and sustain nurses' roles and responsibilities in PHC.