[Public health nursing's role in a crisis stage: people-oriented functions are obsolete]

The nurses and the public health nurses identified mostly individuals as the focus of their service although also families and groups are increasingly receiving services. Orientation towards communities or environments is rather rare. The modes of nursing practice of nurses differentiated from each other quite a lot. On the basis of the results two main modes had been identified: organization oriented and people oriented mode. The organization oriented made is somewhat stereotyped, rather guided by rules and regulations than by the needs of people. The people oriented mode is based on the needs of clients. The needs are being assessed openly and by exploring the situation. Client-centred objectives are being established more often and the interventions are better identified than in the organization oriented mode. The interventions are focused to support the resources of the clients f.e. their own thinking processes and other abilities. On the basis of the interviews it seems to be that nursing practice is in the middle of a transition period. The accountability for one's practice is being gradually accepted. Nursing practice is developing to a more individual direction and the viewpoints of people will be better understood.