Starka som individer men svaga som grupp

Abstract

Reforms had been performed in primary health care in recent years. Swedish district nurses have a long tradition as professional caregivers to our communities. Few studies have investigated what happens with the work situation and the professional role of the district nurse during later years. The aim of this paper is to describe how district nurses perceive their work situation and how they view their profession in the modern society. Focus groups interviews are used as empirical input and were carried out in Stockholm in 2003–04. Data is processed through a qualitative analysis, and the results are presented in six themes. The study indicates that district nurses may have difficulties to uphold their professional demands, which could lead to reduced autonomy and control over their work situation, less opportunities to use and develop their personal competence, and that district nurses as a group might have an indistinct professional role in primary health care and in the society.