Oregon Primary Care Transformation:
Expanding Roles for Nurses on Primary Care Teams (OPACT)
Expanding the primary care nursing workforce across Oregon through recruitment and education of nursing students to work in the role of community-based, primary care nurses leading communities towards better health.
OPACT is a program, housed within the OHSU School of Nursing that recruits and educates nursing students about the role of Registered Nurses in community-based primary care (CBPC) and as essential members and leaders within primary care teams.
With the goal of expanding the primary care nursing workforce in Oregon, OPACT is built on the foundation of five innovative programs at OHSU School of Nursing:
The OPACT Experience
Students in the baccalaureate and accelerated baccalaureate are selected for participation in OPACT based on criteria that include:
- Interest and aptitude for Community Based Primary Care
- Intention to work in primary care following graduation
- Participation in the OR AHEC Scholars program
The OPACT Primary Care Scholars (PC Scholars) are assigned clinical placements with a partner Patient Centered Primary Care Home for one to three terms in designated courses, including:
- Population Health
- Leadership
- Integrated Practicum (senior)
OPACT PC Scholars receive assistance with tuition/fees for each term that they are placed in a primary care setting, encouraging engagement in CBPC over multiple terms.
Academic programs are supplemented by:
- Concept-based Learning Activities (CBLA’s)
- Topic Seminars
- Guest speakers and preceptors
- Faculty development opportunities related to primary care nursing
- Advisory Council of primary care nurses and experts
OPACT Accomplishments (Spring 2019 - Spring 2022)
For more information contact:
Anne Taylor
Funding Support
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under 1UK1HP31728-01-00, Nursing Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Registered Nurses in Primary Care Program as part of an award totaling $2,447,466 with no nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.