Nursing Delivery Care System
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1999, 29(3), 584±591
Integrative literature reviews and meta-analyses
Primary nursing: a mode of care or a philosophy of nursing?
David Pontin PhD RN RSCN RHV
Senior Lecturer ± Health Studies Research, Institute of Health Studies, University of Plymouth, Somerset Centre, Taunton, Somerset TAI 5YD, England. E-mail dpontin@plymouth.ac.uk
Accepted for publication 19 March 1998
Journal of Advanced Nursing 29(3), 584±591 Primary nursing: a mode of care or a philosophy of nursing An examination of the literature surrounding primary nursing has shown that the term `primary nursing' is used to mean different things by different authors. This results in a confusing situation where `primary nursing' is considered by some to mean both a mode of organizing care delivery and a philosophy of nursing. In this paper I argue for a clear separation between the terms which refer to the set of ideas underpinning nursing and descriptions of modes of care. A case is made for using the term `human centred nursing' to refer to nursing beliefs and `primary nursing' to refer to the mode of nursing care delivery.
PONTIN D. (1999)
Keywords: primary nursing, mode of care, philosophy of nursing, human-centred nursing structures of primary nursing are themselves a philosophy of nursing and may be transposed to any setting and will be productive in delivering professional nursing practice to patients (Eyres 1992, Watts 1993, Watkins 1993a, 1993b, 1993c, Graham 1993, Castledine 1994, Wright 1995, Neal 1995, Mills 1995, Melville 1995, Booth 1995, Furlong 1996). In this paper I wish to explore these different conceptions of the phrase `primary nursing' and show that the praxis of nursing concepts has been misconceived as a philosophy; this in part is due to the `professionalization project' engaged in by these authors (Davies 1996).
INTRODUCTION
Primary nursing as an organizational concept originated in the United States of America (USA) during the
Integrative literature reviews and meta-analyses
Primary nursing: a mode of care or a philosophy of nursing?
David Pontin PhD RN RSCN RHV
Senior Lecturer ± Health Studies Research, Institute of Health Studies, University of Plymouth, Somerset Centre, Taunton, Somerset TAI 5YD, England. E-mail dpontin@plymouth.ac.uk
Accepted for publication 19 March 1998
Journal of Advanced Nursing 29(3), 584±591 Primary nursing: a mode of care or a philosophy of nursing An examination of the literature surrounding primary nursing has shown that the term `primary nursing' is used to mean different things by different authors. This results in a confusing situation where `primary nursing' is considered by some to mean both a mode of organizing care delivery and a philosophy of nursing. In this paper I argue for a clear separation between the terms which refer to the set of ideas underpinning nursing and descriptions of modes of care. A case is made for using the term `human centred nursing' to refer to nursing beliefs and `primary nursing' to refer to the mode of nursing care delivery.
PONTIN D. (1999)
Keywords: primary nursing, mode of care, philosophy of nursing, human-centred nursing structures of primary nursing are themselves a philosophy of nursing and may be transposed to any setting and will be productive in delivering professional nursing practice to patients (Eyres 1992, Watts 1993, Watkins 1993a, 1993b, 1993c, Graham 1993, Castledine 1994, Wright 1995, Neal 1995, Mills 1995, Melville 1995, Booth 1995, Furlong 1996). In this paper I wish to explore these different conceptions of the phrase `primary nursing' and show that the praxis of nursing concepts has been misconceived as a philosophy; this in part is due to the `professionalization project' engaged in by these authors (Davies 1996).
INTRODUCTION
Primary nursing as an organizational concept originated in the United States of America (USA) during the