Effectiveness of nursing sisters in primary paediatric care.

A comparison was made of the management, by nursing sisters and a paediatrician, of 76 children attending primary care clinics. In 95% of consultations, the treatment and the presumed outcome of treatment were identical. The nursing sisters identified correctly all children for whom a second opinion was needed. If nursing sisters are responsible for primary care, they can be expected to refer approximately 10% of the children they see.