[Norstar]

PHC Nursing Qualities
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Hi there,

I am a final year nursing student who will be doing my final practicuum in a remote area for Primary Health Care. Can anyone give me some tips on what qualities are needed to practice effectively in this context? What specific skills are beneficial ie clinical and personal attributes. I am trying to get some information together to form some objectives to prepare me before my placement next month.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Many thanks,

Vanessa

[janfrn]

You'll need a good deal of confidence in your own abilities and decisiveness. You'll need to be able to assess a situation, decide what needs to be done and get it done without any back up, calmly and efficiently. You'll need to be quick to engender trust in your patients, because they're going to have to tell you intensely personal things; if they don't trust you they may conceal improtant information, or outright lie to you. Skills-wise you'll need good IV skills, pain assessment and management, a broad pharmacology knowledge base, good understanding of a variety of chronic illnesses (diabetes, COPD, heart disease, renal failure, asthma, dementia etc), trauma management and a few others that I just can't think of off the top of my head. Primary care in isolated outposts is a huge job. Good luck.

[Fiona59]

I'd add in some sound knowledge in addictions (and not just alcohol)

[janfrn]

Good one! I'd forgotten about that one.