Review of primary and community care nursing

Abstract

Health care reform is driven by ageing populations and resulting increasing levels of chronic and complex illness, reduction in access to general practitioners and workforce shortages. There is also pressure to improve accessibility of services to underserved groups and communities. Strengthening the role of primary health care and prevention to enhance individual and population health outcomes is important to address the rise in chronic and preventable conditions. Nurses are becoming increasingly central to the delivery of primary health care in Australia. Nurses working in primary health care can help address workforce shortages, improve access to health care and contribute to the management of chronic conditions and illness prevention.