A transition program to primary health care for new graduate nurses: a strategy towards building a sustainable primary health care nurse workforce?

BMC Nursing

Jacqueline Bloomfield²  Simon M Willcock¹  Lynne Walker³  Anna M Williams²  Christina Aggar²  Christopher J Gordon² 

[1] Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, NSW, Australia;Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, NSW, Australia;Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), Melbourne 3205, Victoria, Australia

关键词: Australia;    Sustainability;    Workforce;    Recruitment;    Retention;    Transition;    Graduate Nurse;    Practice Nurse;    Primary Health Care;   

Others  :  1090495
DOI  :  10.1186/s12912-014-0034-x

 received in 2014-07-31, accepted in 2014-11-03,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

This debate discusses the potential merits of a New Graduate Nurse Transition to Primary Health Care Program as an untested but potential nursing workforce development and sustainability strategy. Increasingly in Australia, health policy is focusing on the role of general practice and multidisciplinary teams in meeting the service needs of ageing populations in the community. Primary health care nurses who work in general practice are integral members of the multidisciplinary team – but this workforce is ageing and predicted to face increasing shortages in the future. At the same time, Australia is currently experiencing a surplus of and a corresponding lack of employment opportunities for new graduate nurses. This situation is likely to compound workforce shortages in the future. A national nursing workforce plan that addresses supply and demand issues of primary health care nurses is required. Innovative solutions are required to support and retain the current primary health care nursing workforce, whilst building a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future.

Discussion

This debate article discusses the primary health care nursing workforce dilemma currently facing policy makers in Australia and presents an argument for the potential value of a New Graduate Transition to Primary Health Care Program as a workforce development and sustainability strategy. An exploration of factors that may contribute or hinder transition program for new graduates in primary health care implementation is considered.

Summary

A graduate transition program to primary health care may play an important role in addressing primary health care workforce shortages in the future. There are, however, a number of factors that need to be simultaneously addressed if a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future is to be realised. The development of a transition program to primary health care should be based on a number of core principles and be subjected to both a summative and cost-effectiveness evaluation involving all key stakeholders.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Gordon et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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