Primary health care: a clarification of the concept and the nursing role

Abstract

Various authors have noted that the terminology relating to ‘community nursing’, ‘community health nursing’ and ‘public health nursing’ have continued to change over the years, and that this has lead to a lack of conceptual clarity (Flynn 1988, Highrighter 1984, Sills & Goeppinger 1985). With the addition of the concept of primary health care (WHO — UNICEF 1978) there has been added confusion about the meaning of terminology used. This confusion contributes to uncertainty about nurses’ practice role in primary health care. This paper explores the differing approaches to interpreting the meaning of primary health care and addresses itself to clarifying the community health nursing practice role in primary health care.

Key Words:

• Community health nursing
• Primary health care
• Role

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Winsome St John

Winsome’s professional experience has been gained in Western Australia and Victoria. She has worked in a broad range of community nursing and acute clinical settings including maternal and child health, community nursing, acute medical /surgical, coronary care, maternity and neonatal intensive care. She is currently a senior lecturer in nursing at Deakin University in Melbourne.