People suffering from neuropsychiatric illness are often in need of caring and nursing over a long period of time. Research shows that patients suffering from such illness do not very often get enough care in practice.

To gain knowledge about nurses experiences from taking care of older people living at home and suffering from chronic and neuropsychiatric illness.

Qualitative analysis: fieldwork and qualitative interviews with 11 nurses who worked in four units in two different municipalities in Norway.

Challenges in clinical nursing explain the process nurses work in when they take care of people with neuropsychiatric illnesses living at home. This is caring for patients, taking care of family members, managing complex patient situations and the need for coaching and cooperation.

To gain a good cooperation with other health personnel to strengthen the competence is important, especially when the goal is caring. Nurses with education in neuropsychiatric care can strengthen the competence maybe and reach a better patient care. The organization of the community health system needs to be studied.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.