Development of community nursing in Zhejiang Province, China: a report of the driving measures

Background: Community nursing is playing an important role in health care worldwide. Methods: We reviewed recent developments in community nursing in the Zhejiang province of China and reported that the locally tailored practical guidelines, education programmes and management models are the driving measures for promoting local community nursing. Results: In 2008, Zhejiang had 1200 community primary health-care service centres, an increase of 56% and 6789 service stations, a twofold increase, compared with 2004. At present, 27 000 community nurses, together with the same number of family doctors, are working in community health-care service centres and stations. Community nursing in Zhejiang has grown not only by numbers but also by the greatly improved infrastructures and functions of its community primary health care. Conclusion: It is the multi-pronged approach that has led to the change being successful in a local health-care system.