Importance of Ophthalmic Nursing in Primary Healthcare Systems

We have arrived at a new era in nursing care. Nurses are now active in both hospital-based healthcare and community health initiatives (1). Community and healthcare provider expectations have increased over the past 20 years largely because of great advances in technology, new healthcare delivery systems, and changing priorities. Advanced practice educational programs include training and developing nurse practitioners to be competent and independent in running their own office, which includes starting their practice and providing care to their own patients. Therefore, specialized nurses need to adjust, expand, and integrate their practical skills to respond to the growing demands and expectations of patients, individuals, and decision makers (2). An ideal specialty nurse should be able to make clinical decisions based on modern medicine and technology considering patient welfare. Decisions should also be consistent with the nature of patients being cared. Trainees in specialized nursing programs are generally registered nurses who wish to increase their level of knowledge, expertise, and experience to provide appropriate services and to meet the changing needs of healthcare consumers (3).