Scope of Competencies of a Primary Care Nurse (PCN)
The primary care nurse selected by the insured person in accordance with Article 114 of the Act on Universal Health Insurance in the National Health Fund plans and provides comprehensive nursing care for the insured person, their family, and the community in their living and learning environment, taking into account the place of service provision in the following areas:
- health promotion and disease prevention;
- nursing services;
- diagnostic services;
- therapeutic services;
- rehabilitation services.
Tasks of the primary care nurse are performed by:
- community/family nurse
Scope of Competencies of a Community/Family Nurse
The community/family nurse plans and provides comprehensive nursing care for individuals, families, and the community in their living environment, considering the place of service provision. Care is provided for:
- healthy and sick individuals, regardless of age or gender,
- persons with disabilities,
- terminally ill patients.
In the provision of healthcare services, the community/family nurse collaborates with:
- primary care/family physicians,
- school and educational nurses,
- community/family midwives,
- practice nurses/midwives,
- long-term care nurses,
- other healthcare providers according to the needs of the patients,
- representatives of organizations and institutions working for family health.
Health Promotion and Preventive Services
- Identification, assessment, and prevention of health risks for patients,
- Identification of nursing needs and health problems of patients,
- Health education, including assessment of patients’ knowledge, skills, and motivation for health-promoting behaviors,
- Counseling on healthy lifestyle,
- Implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs,
- Organization of support groups,
- Implementation of protective vaccinations,
- Conducting preventive activities for patients from health risk groups.
Diagnostic Services
- Conducting environmental and patient interviews,
- Performing physical examinations,
- Measuring and evaluating vital parameters,
- Performing tests,
- Monitoring fluid balance,
- Assessing overall patient condition and health progress,
- Pain assessment and monitoring in palliative care.
Nursing Services
- Providing nursing care for patients at different stages of life and illness, in accordance with current medical knowledge and contemporary nursing care standards,
- Performing nursing procedures,
- Preparing patients for self-care and self-management in illness and disability.
Therapeutic Services
- Determining diets for chronically ill patients,
- Selecting feeding techniques depending on the patient’s condition,
- Procedures using heat and cold,
- Catheterization of the bladder in women (in men after training),
- Performing rectal infusions,
- Administering medications by various routes and techniques,
- Implementing medical orders,
- Applying dressings for wounds, pressure ulcers, burns,
- Performing nursing and therapeutic procedures in stomas, fistulas, and hard-to-heal wounds,
- Administering inhalations, providing emergency oxygen,
- Removing stitches,
- Applying medicinal cups,
- Providing first aid in life-threatening situations and sudden illnesses, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Rehabilitation Services
- Coordinating and cooperating in bedside rehabilitation to prevent complications from disease processes, prolonged immobilization, and the use of aids,
- Mobility improvement,
- Positional drainage, respiratory exercises,
- General conditioning exercises.
