An Introduction to Community and Primary Health Care

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are well placed to provide an alternate source of primary health care offering increased accessibility and consumer choice, particularly for those in rural and subregional communities (Kelly et al., 2017). They have the capacity and capability to provide high-quality, effective and efficient clinically focused health care delivery in a variety of contexts (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). Recognised as advanced practice nurses internationally and nationally, the NP role has emerged as a potential response to meet the challenges of rising health care demand and is proving effective in promoting transformational changes within the primary health care sector (Contandriopoulos et al., 2016; Grant et al., 2017; Gray, 2016). The concluding chapter of this text discusses the key attributes that contribute to the uniqueness of the NP's role, discusses the scope of practice and key functions of the primary care NP, and provides an understanding of career progression for nurses considering the NP role within the Australian context.