<p>Background This article reviews the nurse’s role in respiratory care in community settings. It aims to identify successful models of community-based respiratory care so that future models and programmes can benefit.</p> <p>Conclusion From the literature it is evident that the nurse’s role could be strengthened by the national standardisation of education and the development of models of care and relevant career paths. Improvements to patient care could include the addition of palliative counselling services, general psychosocial support care, auditing patient satisfaction and implementing individualised care plans.</p>