Educational Innovations
Use of Long-Term Care Facilities for Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Students
Published Online:January 20, 2021https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20210120-08
Abstract
Background:
Family and adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (NP) students must obtain patient clinical hours caring for older adults. Primary care occurs in a variety of settings, including long-term care (LTC) facilities. Anecdotal reports indicate that faculty in some primary NP academic programs do not recognize the robust primary care opportunities that exist in LTC settings.
Method:
This article describes a professional nursing organization's process of researching the appropriateness of designating LTC clinical hours as allowable primary care clinical experiences for NP students.
Results:
The NP serves as an integral member of the LTC team, providing the same elements of primary care provided in traditional ambulatory care settings.
Conclusion:
Older adults receiving primary care in LTC settings have a variety of health care needs, including assessment and management of acute and chronic conditions. A position statement was developed for primary care NP students and endorsed by 22 professional organizations and NP programs. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(2):99–102.]
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