Global collaboration in primary health care
Ulin, P.R.
Nursing Outlook 37(3): 134-137
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-6554 PMID: 2470032 Document Number: 369632
The role of nurses in global collaboration in primary health care is explored in this address. The concept of primary care differs in various countries depending on needs, so re-education of nurses parallels these needs. Nursing practice is adapting to shortages of physicians in some areas, but reacting to excess of physicians in Spain for example. Only the United States makes a distinction between primary health care and community health nursing: most other countries emphasize team approach to a greater extent, integrating nutrition, agriculture, social work, education and other fields into nursing practice. One great challenge to international collaboration by nurses is their failure to be more assertive in initiating local and regional health programs. Another obstacle is communication, not only language but also unfamiliarity with professional development in terms of advanced academic education and professional journals. International nursing collaboration can begin by developing strategies for solving the problems of refugees, agricultural migrants, homeless, and marginal people of all kinds. International collaboration could improve primary care, for example the infant low birth weight and mortality in the Black U.S. population, 34th among all nations. The primary health care movement challenges nurses to break through barriers that maintain professional isolation.