Primary health care nursing models in the spotlight.

A new Ministry of Health publication spotlights eight primary health care nursing models around the country. The Ministry's Deputy Director-Genera[, Clinical Services Directorate, Colin Feek, said he hoped the publication would illustrate "the incredible passion and commitment for excellence in health care nurses have" and inspire nurses to take advantage of the changes and opportunities to come, as the Primary Health Care (PHC) Strategy progresses and develops. The publication, Evolving Models of Primary Health Care Nursing Practice, is a report by nurse intern Erin Beatson on how nurses were adapting and evolving services and models of practice under the strategy. Changes to present service delivery models, clinical career pathways to support advanced nursing practice and developing education in PHC practice were identified as factors that would influence the future of PHC nursing practice. The report's findings indicate that while PHC nurses have responded to the strategy's vision, the additional support structures needed to develop the vision are still to be established.

The publication focuses on a rural nurse specialist, a nurse-led youth health clinic, a primary care liaison nurse in mental health, a nurseled acute care team in the community, a neighbourhood nurse project, a mobile community ear clinic, a union health centre and a nurseled leg ulcer clinic in a district nursing service. The publication is available on the Ministry's website: www.moh.govt.nz/publications.