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Rural community based nurses: moving towards a primary health care role and identity
Citation
Van Galen, R and Stirling, CM, Rural community based nurses: moving towards a primary health care role and identity, Australian Rural Nurses and Midwives: Official Conference Program, 6-7th November 2008, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 34. (2008) [Conference Extract]
Abstract
RURAL COMMUNITY BASED NURSES: MOVING TOWARDS A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ROLE AND IDENTITY.
Ree Van Galen and Christine Stirling
University Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania
Many issues impact on the continuing ability for rural communities in Tasmania to provide for the health and wellbeing of their residents including an ageing population, with increasing focus on the management of chronic health issues, difficulties in recruitment and retention of health professionals and a documented sea change/ tree change of older people to rural/seaside areas (Tasmania's Health Plan 2007). The issues are not isolated to rural Tasmania but reflected both nationally and internationally, motivating the urgency for primary health system reform.
The WHO has highlighted the critical role of nursing in the provision of primary health care in rural areas.
In 2007, the authors conducted a small single site case study research project (funded under the PHCRED program) utilising semi structured interviews within a qualitative methodology. The aim of this research was to explore the fit between health professional’s role and identity in primary health care and their practice. The findings confirmed a tension for rural nurses in their practice – their struggles in negotiating a primary health care approach within their practice site.
The key themes emerging for the participants in this research will be presented. This will include the organisational enablers and barriers to implementing a primary health care approach to practice as well as the tensions between philosophy and practice for rural community based nurses.
Currently, with a national focus on primary health care strategies, this presentation will be particularly relevant in supporting the ongoing development of community based rural nurses practice.
Ree Van Galen
372 Firetower Road
Koonya. 7187
Tasmania.
(03) 62503868
reevangalen@tassie.net.au
Dr Christine Stirling
Assistant Director - Workforce
University Department of Rural Health
University of Tasmania
Private Bag 103
Hobart TAS
Ph 03 6226 7798
Christine.Stirling@utas.edu.au
Ree Van Galen has many years of community based nursing experience and currently works as a community based rural nurse in Tasmania. She is also a PhD candidate with University Department of Rural Health at UTas. Her PhD topic is:
"Primary health care and rural community based nurses: a study of identity to inform a transformational model for Australia's health sector by exploring Australian and New Zealand current nursing practice."
Item Details
Item Type: | Conference Extract |
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Keywords: | Rural; Nursing; Primary Health Care; Identity |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Primary health care |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) |
Objective Field: | Rural and remote area health |
UTAS Author: | Van Galen, R (Ms Ree Van Galen) |
UTAS Author: | Stirling, CM (Professor Christine Stirling) |
ID Code: | 55638 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Deposited By: | UTAS Centre for Rural Health |
Deposited On: | 2009-03-12 |
Last Modified: | 2009-03-12 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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