Education for Registered Nurses in Primary Care: Current and Future Trends

Abstract

Registered nurses (RNs) require specific preparation to fulfill the unique roles of working in primary care in Canada; however, RN education lacks primary care-specific content. This paper reviews RN education related to primary care in Canada by outlining opportunities and challenges. Gaps in primary care-specific education within undergraduate programs and at the post-licensure level highlight the need for integrating primary care, including interprofessional collaboration, into curricula throughout the education and training pipeline. Establishing partnerships across education, practice and policy spheres is critical to adapting RN education to meet the needs of Canada's primary care workforce.