Tasks and activities of community mental health nurses: integrative review and thematic analysis

Introduction: The community setting represents a key environment for the provision of mental health care. Community mental health nurses (CMHNs) play a vital role in delivering person-centered care in outpatient settings. But they are not only essential providers of care; they are also key actors in coordinating and integrating support across fragmented systems. Despite this, the specific tasks and contributions of CMHNs-particularly those in advanced practice roles-remain insufficiently defined in the literature. Aim: To synthesize and thematically analyze international research on the tasks and activities of CMHNs, including those attributed to advanced practice nurses (APNs). Methods: An integrative review was conducted using systematic searches in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and selected publisher databases. Studies published between 2008 and 2024 in English or German were included. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke's six step approach. The review adheres to ENTREQ guidelines and is registered with the Open Science Framework. Results: Thirty-seven studies were included. CMHNs perform a wide range of tasks across seven domains: direct care, care coordination, health promotion, education, leadership, management, and research. APNs were particularly active in leadership and service development. However, distinctions between generalist and advanced roles were often unclear. Conclusion: CMHNs provide complex, person-centered care across diverse settings and contribute to integrated, interprofessional mental health care. APNs contribute additional system-level competencies. The findings support educators, policymakers, and workforce planners in understanding current nursing practices and identifying development needs, especially in countries where community mental health nursing and advanced practice roles are not yet widely established.