Primary Care

1. What are the four principles of primary care and how do they apply to clinical nursing practice? (10

marks)

Answer: The four principles of primary care are accessibility, comprehensiveness, coordination and

continuity. Accessibility means that primary care services are available and affordable to all people

regardless of their location, income or health status. Comprehensiveness means that primary care

covers a wide range of health needs, from prevention and promotion to treatment and rehabilitation.

Coordination means that primary care facilitates the integration and collaboration of different health

providers and sectors to ensure continuity and quality of care. Continuity means that primary care

establishes a long-term relationship between patients and providers, based on trust, respect and mutual

understanding.

2. What are some of the roles and responsibilities of a clinical nurse in primary care settings? (10 marks)

Answer: Some of the roles and responsibilities of a clinical nurse in primary care settings are: conducting

health assessments, providing health education and counseling, performing clinical procedures and

interventions, prescribing medications and referrals, managing chronic conditions, coordinating care

with other providers and agencies, advocating for patients' rights and preferences, participating in

quality improvement and research activities, and collaborating with interprofessional teams.

3. What are some of the challenges and opportunities for clinical nursing in primary care? (10 marks)

Answer: Some of the challenges for clinical nursing in primary care are: adapting to diverse and complex

health needs of patients and communities, working in resource-limited and remote settings, dealing

with ethical dilemmas and legal issues, coping with stress and burnout, maintaining professional

competence and development, and balancing work-life demands. Some of the opportunities for clinical

nursing in primary care are: expanding the scope and autonomy of practice, enhancing the quality and

safety of care, improving access and equity of health services, promoting patient-centered and holistic

care, strengthening interprofessional collaboration and leadership, and contributing to health policy and

system reform.

4. How can clinical nurses use evidence-based practice to improve primary care outcomes? (10 marks)

Answer: Evidence-based practice is the process of integrating the best available research evidence with

clinical expertise and patient values to make informed decisions about health care. Clinical nurses can

use evidence-based practice to improve primary care outcomes by: asking relevant and answerable

clinical questions, searching for reliable and valid sources of evidence, appraising the quality and

applicability of evidence, applying the evidence to practice in a feasible and ethical manner, evaluating

the effectiveness and impact of the evidence on practice outcomes, and disseminating the findings and

implications of the evidence to stakeholders.

5. How can clinical nurses promote health literacy among primary care patients? (10 marks)

Answer: Health literacy is the ability to obtain, process, understand and use health information to make

appropriate health decisions. Clinical nurses can promote health literacy among primary care patients

by: using clear and simple language, avoiding jargon and acronyms, confirming understanding by asking

open-ended questions or using teach-back methods, providing written or visual aids to supplement

verbal information, tailoring information to the patient's needs, preferences and culture, encouraging

questions and feedback from the patient, involving the patient's family or caregivers if appropriate,

referring the patient to other sources of information or support if needed, and reinforcing key messages

and action plans at the end of the consultation.