Defining Care in the Culture of the Chronically Mentally Ill Living in the Community

The ethnonursing method was used to discover care meanings, expressions, and experiences of the chronically mentally ill to guide nurses in promoting the health and well-being of these people. Fifteen key and 24 general informants were interviewed. Six major themes were abstracted: (a) care as listening and giving presence is meaningful to the chronically mentally ill; (b) they desire to give care to others; (c) they are a subculture; (d) mental illness carries a public stigma in the dominant culture; (e) flexible and growth-promoting care practices are desired; and (f) the chronically mentally ill desire normalcy but fear rejection by the dominant culture.