Primary Care Toolkit

The primary care system is the “first line” of clinical services and an entry point to the health-care system.

CNA’s Primary Care Toolkit is a resource for registered nurses and nurse practitioners building collaborative teams in primary care settings such as family practices and walk-in clinics. This toolkit can help registered nurses optimize their role in a multi-disciplinary primary care team as they integrate a primary health-care focus more effectively into their practice. Primary care teams, which include family physicians, registered nurses and other health-care professionals working side-by-side as partners, produce better health outcomes, improved access to services, more efficient use of resources and greater satisfaction for both patients and providers.

The toolkit is designed to be a comprehensive resource for accessing information and resources on evidence-based care. It was developed under the leadership of the Canadian Nurses Association with the support of the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association and other health-care partners.

For more information, please contact practicepolicy@cna-aiic.ca.

Tools & Resources

• Benefits
• Sharing time and space
• Role description
• Build collaborative teams
• Business case
• Specialized nursing program for family practice/primary care registered nurses at George Brown College [PDF, 268 KB]

Acknowledgements

CNA would like to acknowledge Patsy Smith, RN, MN, PLS Consulting Inc. and members of the advisory committee for their commitment and contribution to the development of CNA’s Primary Care Toolkit.

Planning Committee

Lisa Ashley, RN CCHN(C), M.Ed
Nurse consultant, Nursing Policy
Canadian Nurses Association

Michelle Allard, RN, BN
Primary Care Nurse, Manitoba
CFPNA representative

Dr. Jean-Pierre Arseneau
Family physician
New Brunswick

Maureen Best, RN, M.Ed, CCHN(C)
School of Nursing, BN Program
Mount Royal College, Calgary, Alberta

Dr. Jeffrey Colp
Family physician
Nova Scotia

Laurel Cooke RN
Clinical Practice Leader
Hamilton Family Health Team, Ontario

Gail Greene RN BN NP
Nurse practitioner
Newfoundland and Labrador

Dr. John Maxted
Associate executive director
Health & Public Policy, College of Family Physicians of Canada

Dr. Rob Wedel
Family physician
Alberta