Examining Family and Community Nurses' Core Competencies in Continuing Education Programs Offered in Primary Healthcare Settings: An Integrative Literature Review

Nurse Education in Practice (01/23) Azimirad, Mina; Paloniitty, Riina; Papathanasiou, Ioanna V.; et al.

An integrative review of literature on family and community nurse (FCN) continuing education programs (CE) in primary healthcare settings focused on core competencies. The authors defined 28 FCN professional profile core competencies concentrating on the following categories: needs assessment; decision-making; health promotion and education; communication; navigation as care coordinator and patient advocate; evidence-based approaches; and enhancing and promoting individual and family health to support care quality. Twenty-one articles were included in the review, which found that FCN CE programs thoroughly covered needs assessment, health promotion, communication (e-health) and evidence-based learning approaches. Coverage for the remaining core competencies was poor, however. The authors found knowledge of assessment rating scales in mental health still lacking among public health nurses, while current FCN CE programs also overlook assessment and analysis, knowledge synthesis and program planning. Although programs incorporate some aspects of decision-making, ethical issues, leadership skills, change management and disparity/diversity management are missing. The authors suggest these areas can be included in future FCN CE programs "and may help to improve nurses' competence and healthcare delivery and support new integrated models of care."

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