Perceptions of nurses from Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) about practices performed during home visits

OBJECTIVE: Investigate perceptions about the practices performed by nurses during home visits carried out with patients treated at Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). METHOD: This exploratory research with a qualitative approach was carried out with six nurses at CAPS in a countryside city of Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic questionnaires and a semi-structured interview were applied, and the data were analyzed through Content Analysis. RESULTS: Results were organized into three categories: 1) Insufficient training of nursing professionals to work in CAPS; 2) Challenges faced by the nursing team during home visits; and 3) Impacts of the support network on the recovery process of patients. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The nurses participating in the study reported not having received adequate training during their undergraduate studies, making it necessary to seek knowledge by their own means. In addition, several challenges were noted during visits, such as patients' resistance to receiving the multidisciplinary team, incomplete or incorrect addresses, patients' absence during home visits, and the difficulty in reaching patients' families. Finally, the importance of family assistance as a support network for users with mental disorders was noted.