title: Family practice/Primary health care nurses in Nova Scotia.
abstract: The authors describe a study that was designed to explore the current role of family practice/primary health care (FP/PHC) nurses in Nova Scotia. A survey was created and mailed to FP/PHC nurses. Forty-one returned surveys met the criteria of the study. Twenty-two of these nurses were contacted for a followup telephone interview. The findings confirm that FP/PHC nurses working in N.S. are key members of the collaborative health-care team and, although they are often underutilized, they perform key functions such as triage, health education and immunization. Most FP/PHC nurses are underpaid and often work with little or no job security. FP/PHC nurses indicated that they are isolated in their practice and could benefit from networking and educational opportunities with their peers. They are frustrated that they cannot bill the provincial medical insurance plan for basic nursing services. The study results indicate a need to better define scope of practice and highlight the need for leadership and support for the role of FP/PHC nurses in N.S.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Healh Sciences Center, Halifax, Nova Scota.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000451:nursing; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009674:Nova Scotia; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D009818:Office Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage