PRIMARY-CARE FOR WOMEN - AN OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE NURSE-MIDWIFE

The nurse-midwife's past, present, and future roles in the primary car e of women are explored using a recent Institute of Medicine report on primary care as a framework for discussion. Primary care, the scope o f services, and the role of the primary care clinician are described, and specific strategies for a primary care emphasis in basic nurse-mid wifery education are addressed. The nurse-midwife's future roles in co llaborative practice for the primary care of women and the need for co ntinuing education opportunities in primary care are also discussed.