National Competencies for Registered Nurses in Primary Care: A Delphi Study

Abstract

<jats:p> A Delphi (consensus) process was used to obtain national agreement on competencies for registered nurses (RNs) in primary care. A draft of competencies was developed by key informants. Following this, nurses with primary care experience/expertise completed a Delphi survey to rate the importance of competency statements on a six-point Likert scale. Statements not reaching consensus (agreement ≥80%) were modified and included in a second (final) round. The first survey was completed by 63% ( n = 86/137) of participants and 84% ( n = 72/86) of these participants completed the second survey. Most statements ( n = 45) achieved agreement after the first survey; one statement was dropped and two were combined following the second round. The final list of competencies consists of 47 statements across six domains (professionalism; clinical practice; communication; collaboration and partnership; quality assurance, evaluation, and research; leadership). National competencies will help strengthen the RN workforce within primary care, improve team functioning, and support role integration/optimization. </jats:p>

A qualitative study exploring the influence of clinic funding on the integration of family practice nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador

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Family Practice Nursing in Newfoundland and Labrador: Are Reported Roles Reflective of Professional Competencies for Registered Nurses in Primary Care?

“…Furthermore, in 2019, the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association developed a unique set of competencies (integrated knowledge, skills, judgement, and attributes) for family practice nurses. Forty-seven competencies are organized within six overarching domains: Professionalism, Clinical Practice, Communication, Collaboration and Partnership, Quality Assurance, Evaluation and Research, and Leadership ( Lukewich et al, 2020 ). Each domain includes an expansive list of relevant competencies that family practice nurses should be able to enact within their primary care practice.…”

“…RNs are able to work in primary health care without any additional training requirements beyond their Bachelor's degree. It is within the scope of practice of family practice nurses to deliver a broad range of health services, including but not limited to preventative screening, education, management of chronic diseases, pharmaceutical management, pediatric and women's care, and care coordination ( Halcomb et al, 2016 ; Lukewich et al, 2020 ; Norful et al, 2017 ; Poitras et al, 2018 ; Poitras et al, 2018 ).…”

Adoption of care management activities by primary care nurses for people with common mental disorders and physical conditions: A multiple case study

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