[Profiles and Characteristics of Mental Health Nurses in Community-Based Health Care for People with Mental Illness - Integrative Review and Thematic Framework Analysis].

Objective: To examine the specific scope of practice of community mental health nurses (CMHNs) across CMHN roles and care contexts.

Methods: Systematic literature searches in CINAHL, PubMed/Medline, Google and Google Scholar, supplemented by a search of various publishers' databases. Data were analyzed and synthesized using the framework analysis method.

Results: This paper identifies two role profiles in CMHN practice that describe distinct functions in the outpatient care of people with mental illness: (A) Primary Care CMHN and (B) Specialized Care CMHN. For each role profile, contextual factors and specific role content are described and analyzed for similarities and differences.

Conclusions: The described role profiles can serve as a template for the development of curricula in the field of CMHN. It is important to consider the national context as well as the current and future need for psychosocial care.