Distriktsköterskor

Distriktsköterskor are licensed nurses in Sweden who have completed specialist education in district nursing. They work primarily within primary health care and municipal home care, though they can also be part of hospital- or geriatric care teams. Their overarching goal is to provide accessible, preventive, and person-centered nursing for individuals, families, and communities.

Key responsibilities include assessment and triage of healthcare needs, care planning and follow-up, chronic disease management (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), wound care and basic procedures, vaccination programs, and palliative or end-of-life support. They also conduct health promotion and education on topics like medications, self-care, nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation. District nurses often coordinate care across professionals and services, arrange home visits, monitor patients remotely, and serve as a link between patients, general practitioners, and social services.

Work settings commonly include primary care centers (vårdcentraler) and municipal home care services (hemtjänst), with roles that may involve collaboration in multidisciplinary teams. They work together with general practitioners, other nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and other care professionals to ensure coordinated care for patients in the community.

Education and regulation: To become a distriktsköterska, one must be a licensed nurse (legitimerad sjuksköterska) and complete specialist training in district nursing (specialistutbildning i distriktssjuksköterska). The profession is regulated by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient safety, and empowerment.