Stärkung der Pflege in der Primärversorgung in Europa: die Bedeutung einer positiven Praxisumgebung = Strengthening primary health care nursing in Europe: the importance of a positive practice environment

Nurses, form one of the most important groups of human resources for health in Europe– also and especially in primary health care. In this paper it is argued that to support and develop the practice of nurses in primary care, the World Health Organization initiative of Positive Practice Environments should be examined, implemented and the outcomes of such an innovation subjected to rigorous research. Having reflected on the central place of primary health care in all health systems, the evidence concerning the position of nursing in primary health care is considered and innovative models of community based nursing examined. A tool, the ‘roadmap’, which may be used to examine the current position of nurses in primary health care is outlined and the context within which the ‘roadmap’ sits, Positive Practice Environments, is then considered in detail. The paper concludes with recommendations for changes in the organisation of primary health care nursing, drawing on the available evidence, and urging the need for implementation and research into Positive Practice Environments to strengthen primary health care and the value of primary health care nursing to be fully realised. The tool could be also helpful to develop primary health care nursing in Germany where, traditionally, primary health care has been fragmented and based on a single disease model.