Patient encounters by primary care nurse students

Student‐patient encounter data were systematically documented. Health problems identified by primary care nurse students were classified and analyzed. Primary health care practicums in three areas of specialization were obstetric‐gynecologic, general adult, and pediatric services. A student‐patient encounter form was constructed to record encounter data. A total of 1,689 encounter forms were completed by 30 nurse students enrolled in primary health care practicums during the years 1972–75. The identified health problems were classified by the International Classification of Diseases Adapted for Use in the United States. The results indicated: (a) the focus of primary health care for obstetric‐gynecologic and pediatric patients was on health maintenance, whereas the focus for general adult patients was on illness care; (b) symptoms and ill‐defined health conditions were frequently encountered by the students, particularly with general adult patients; (c) a cluster of health problems was identified for each of the three areas of specialization. The findings seemed to justify the need to develop a health problem classification system for primary health care.