[Profile of public health nurses in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg. Nearly 130 nurses participated in a study of the National Research Program No. 8].

130 nurses from the public health nursing services in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg (total population 700,000) participated in March 1981 in a study of their activity. At this occasion, some of their personal and professional characteristics were recorded and are analyzed in this paper. Differences appear depending on the home care service, the area of work (urban or predominantly rural), and the canton. It is seen that, in general, urban services employ younger nurses. (About 70% are between 20 and 40 years of age.) A large majority (around 90%) of the nurses working as PHN have their basic training in general nursing care (as compared with MCH or psychiatric), and over 50% have completed post-basic public health nursing training. 38% of them work part-time. A third have been with their present employer for one year or less, a third between one and five years, a third over five years.