Professional identity and the culture of community nursing

Using an ethnographic approach, data collection was carried out using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Two teams of nurses from one primary care trust in the West Midlands participated in this study. Data were analysed using James Spradley's (1979) thematic cultural analysis. Findings include: sharing information and planning ahead, helping across teams and busyness and how other professions view community nursing. Issues of community nurses invisibility and the articulation of expertise are presented.

Although many studies have been carried out exploring the handover, there is a dearth of work focusing upon community nursing. In the current social and financial climate it is essential to make the case for continuity of care to be safeguarded. Additionally, the importance of protecting reporting time for community nurses is suggested. The reporting time serves to enhance group identity, reduce anxieties and relieve isolation. Finally, report time crucially encourages the articulation of expertise between community nurses at a time when they are feeling professionally devalued.