Primary Care Role

The role of nurses in primary care is continuously evolving. The demands and needs for nurses in primary care are increasing at a rate that our health system cannot counter-act at present. Factors which have contributed to this include, an increase in birth rates, an increase of immigration, increase in life expectancy and a decrease in resources within the health care system due to a lack of funding. In this assignment I will be discussing the different roles that nurses have in primary health care; health promotion, sickness prevention and care of the sick. I will also be exploring the social determinants of health; home and social status, education, physical environment, social and family support networks and the availability of health services

People in lower socio economic classes usually suffer from a higher risk of serious illness and a premature death. Even in the most prosperous countries, people who have a lower income and a lower social status have higher levels of illness and shorter life expectancies than upper class citizens. (Wilkinson et al 2005) This social determinant of social and economic status can be very difficult to change. People can be born into a low socio economic class and can remain there for generations if there is not sufficient education and appropriate changes are not implemented. There is a positive association between education and health. Those with higher education levels usually experience lower levels of illness, lower levels of disability, a better quality of life and a longer life expectancy than those with lower education levels. Education shapes work and living conditions. Those who are well educated are less likely to be unemployed or employed in a dangerous work environment, which can have an effect on their health status. (Ross et al 1995) The well-educated are more likely to be employed: Among persons aged 25 to 34 in 1991, 87 percent of college graduates were employed, compared to 77 percent of those with only a high school degree, and 56 percent of those with eight years of education or less. (U.S. Department of Education 1992) Our physical environment is also a social determinant

Members of the Travelling Community are a very vulnerable population in Ireland. Many may be employed in dangerous and substandard places of work. Many also will not have adequate access to primary health care. Members of The Travelling Community are advised not to attend emergency departments when in a mental health crisis. However, members of The Travelling Community have said that they have been deferred from local GPs. They have also stated that they feel that the health services want to deal with them as quickly as possible and that GPs have even given repeat prescriptions to avoid consulting them again. (Mental Health Reform, 2014) Members of the Travelling Community can benefit hugely from a primary health care team who approach their care with a social determinants