Introduction. Nursing staff can participate in diagnosis of people’s problems that are caused both by individual needs and social life. To meet the increasing needs of the society various forms of care dedicated to the elderly, chronically ill, disabled and children have been established. One of the above forms is the longterm care exercised by nurses in the residential environment of the patient. Aim. The aim of the study was to characterize male and female nurses employed in home longterm care. Material and methods. 296 male and female nurses participated in the research (98.99% of female and 1,01% of male). Medium age of the respondents was 47.2 ± 7.6 years. Most of the respondents graduated from medical secondary school – 133 (44.92%) and possessed a Bachelor Degree of Nursing – 109 (36. 82%). The biggest group of the respondents have been working for 21–30 years (44.59%). Medium tenure in longterm care was 4 years. Results. The most often it is additional work for the respondents and they take care of 3 patients – 121 (40.88%). Most of the respondents – 224 (75.68%) think that work with a chronically ill patient requires specific qualifications and it is not suitable for everyone. The respondents expressed as a percentage the amount of time dedicated to individual services for the patient during a month. The results are as follows: care/nursing service Me = 40, Q1 = 30, Q3 = 50, health service Me = 20, Q1 = 10, Q3 = 20, rehabilitation service Me = 20, Q1 = 18, Q3 = 25, health promotion and prevention service Me = 20, Q1 = 10, Q3 = 23.75. Conclusions. Nurses in Silesia district who take care of patients at their homes do not differ from general population of nurses in the field of age and education. Their work at patients’ homes is the most often an additional occupation. In comparison with the others, the nursing staff with specialisation in care of patients in the domestic environment devote more time for health promotion and prevention.

Key words: nurse, home longterm care.