Date of Award

5-16-2024

Publication Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.N.

Department

Nursing

Supervisor

Edward Cruz

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization’s 2020 report on the state of the world’s nursing stated that efforts should be made to optimize the role of the registered nurse (RN) in primary care. Research evidence supports that RNs in primary care are underutilized and have unclear role descriptions (Lukewich et al., 2014). Aim: The purpose of this study was to further explore the RN role in community-based multidisciplinary primary care settings in Ontario. The research questions were: (1) What are the shared beliefs, values, and practices of RNs in primary care settings? and (2) What facilitates, constrains and/or sustains the RN role in primary care settings? Methodology: This focused ethnographic study was guided by critical realism. Data Collection: Data was collected through a socio- demographic questionnaire, two individual virtual interviews conducted with each participant, and analysis of publicly posted job advertisements for primary care RNs. Results: Through Roper and Shapira’s (2000) method of data analysis participants shared beliefs, values, and practices as primary care RNs were identified as: holistic patient-centered care, seeing patients make positive changes, practicing autonomously, bridging gaps, and collaboration. Factors which constrain the RNs ability to practice within their values and beliefs included workload and role obscurity while collaboration and the nurse-client relationship facilitated their role. The findings highlight the importance of defining the primary care RN role according to their distinct values, beliefs, and scope of practice and how without this the role may be subject to work intensification and deprofessionalization.

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