Hvordan definerer psykiatriske sykepleiere i kommunehelsetjenesten sin funksjon og rolle?

The aim of this article is to present and discuss the most important results from a study where the function and role of community psychiatric nurses in Norway are explored. The study consist of both a qualitative and a quantitative approach. Six psychiatric nurses were interwiewed in – depth and 88 filled in a questinnare. A main finding is that direct patient care takes priority over councelling and educational tasks. Contacts with the social network is an integrated part of the defined function. Preventive activities on the first level are almost not described. Further analysis shows that the community psychiatric nurses may have different profiles: 1) care profile, 2) therapeutic profile, 3) social profile and 4) councelling profile. The most important advantage of working in the field is that this gives the best opportunity for close contact with the population.

One drawback may be that the nurses experience loneliness and lack of a professional fellowship.