NURS 1017 – Primary Health Care in Action: Assessment Task 2 – Written Essay

Western Sydney University’s NURS 1017 introduces foundational principles of primary health care (PHC) in nursing practice. This assessment focuses on applying these principles to real-world scenarios, drawing on social determinants of health and PHC strategies.

Primary health care remains a cornerstone of Australia’s health system, promoting equity and community-focused care. Nursing students exploring PHC concepts gain essential skills for addressing health inequities in diverse populations. This assignment supports deeper understanding of PHC in action through critical analysis.

Assessment Overview

Assessment Type: Written Essay
Word Count: 1500 words (±10%)
Weighting: 40%
Due Date: As specified in the unit vUWS site
Submission: Electronic submission via Turnitin on vUWS

Task Description

Write a 1500-word essay that critically analyses the application of primary health care principles in a community or population health context.

Select one of the following topics:

1. Discuss how social determinants of health influence health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and explain the role of nurses in applying PHC principles to address these determinants.
2. Examine the impact of cultural diversity (e.g., refugees, migrants, or LGBTQIA+ communities) on access to primary health care, and outline nursing strategies aligned with PHC to promote equity and inclusion.
3. Analyse a primary health care initiative or program in Australia (e.g., health promotion, screening, or chronic disease management) and evaluate how it embodies the principles of PHC, including community participation and intersectoral collaboration.

Your essay must draw on relevant scholarly literature to support your arguments and demonstrate understanding of PHC as a social model of health.

Essay Structure

Use the following structure:

1. Introduction (approximately 200 words): Provide background on primary health care, state the chosen topic, and outline the essay’s main points.
2. Body (approximately 1100 words): Critically discuss the topic, integrating key PHC principles (e.g., equity, access, empowerment, community self-determination, intersectoral collaboration) and supporting with evidence from peer-reviewed sources.
3. Conclusion (approximately 200 words): Summarise key insights and discuss implications for nursing practice in primary health care.

Include in-text citations and a reference list in Harvard style.

Marking Criteria

• Understanding of PHC concepts (30%): Demonstrates clear knowledge of PHC principles and their application.
• Critical analysis and use of evidence (40%): Provides reasoned arguments supported by relevant, current scholarly sources (minimum 10 references).
• Structure and organisation (15%): Logical flow, clear paragraphs, appropriate headings if needed.
• Academic writing and referencing (15%): Clear, concise writing; accurate Harvard referencing; adheres to word count.

Primary health care nursing assignments like this one prepare students for real-world roles in promoting health equity. Western Sydney University nursing programs emphasise evidence-based practice in PHC to meet Australia’s evolving health needs.

 References

• Cox, R., Robinson, T., Rossiter, R., Collison, L. and Hills, D. (2023) ‘Nurses transitioning to primary health care in Australia: a practice improvement initiative’, SAGE Open Nursing, 9, pp. 1-11. doi: 10.1177/23779608231165695.
• McInnes, S., Peters, K., Bonney, A. and Halcomb, E. (2020) ‘A profile of primary health care nurses in Australia’, Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26(1), pp. 34-41. doi: 10.1071/PY19018.
• Murray-Parahi, P., DiGiacomo, M., Jackson, D. and Davidson, P.M. (2020) ‘Primary health care content in Australian university nursing curricula: a review’, Collegian, 27(3), pp. 271-280. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2019.09.006.
• Robinson, T., Rossiter, R. and Bland, J. (2024) ‘Transforming health care delivery: the role of primary health care nurses in rural and remote Australia’, Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(3), pp. 592-596. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13120.
• Wiley, K., Robinson, T. and Hills, D. (2025) ‘Sustaining the general practice nursing workforce in Australia: demographics, job satisfaction, and professional development challenges’, Nursing & Health Sciences, 27(2), e70130. doi: 10.1111/nhs.70130.