Preparing nursing students for enhanced roles in primary care: The current state of prelicensure and RN-to-BSN education

With the current emphasis on including registered nurses (RNs) on the primary care teams, it is essential that nursing programs prepare students for employment in these settings. This study explored the current state of prelicensure and RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) online education regarding the implementation of primary care content in the curricula. A sample of 1,409 schools and/or colleges from across the United States was invited to participate in an online survey. About 529 surveys were returned for an overall response rate of 37.5%. Summative content analysis was used to analyze survey data. Although most respondents have implemented some primary care content, some found it challenging and others have demurred from incorporating primary care content altogether. Nursing leaders and faculty in academia must collaborate with clinical partners to design and expand didactic and clinical learning experiences that emphasize primary care content in the prelicensure and RN-to-BSN education. •Primary care in the United States is in urgent need for transformation to meet the health care needs of people it serves.•Primary care services need to shift toward practices operated by highly functioning interdisciplinary teams.•Registered nurses (RNs) with education and training in primary care can effectively assist in management of the increasingly complex primary care population.•Although most programs surveyed have implemented some primary care content in their curricula, many found it challenging. Some have demurred from incorporating primary care content altogether.•Forward thinking faculty and nurse leaders in academia must collaborate with clinical partners to emphasize the didactic content and clinical learning experiences in primary care in the prelicensure and Bachelor of Science in Nursing-to-RN programs.