Future Perspectives of the Nurse in the Community

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider the paradigm shift "from the Hospital to the Community" and find adequate intervention strategies for promoting mental health and preventing mental illness, as well as its early detection. The psychiatric nurse in the community has an important role in this area of ​​activity and must develop skills in order to promote the bio-psycho-social rehabilitation of people in their environment. Several issues will be addresses, including the role of the family as the change in the fight against stigma and discrimination, the importance of collaboative work with primary health care and the techniques used in psychotherapy. Procedures and interventions used in other countries, including Britain and Canada, where the deinstitutionalization of patients with mental problems is a longstanding reality, will be reviewed.