In Taiwan, responsibility for administering healthcare services is being gradually moved out of hospitals and into the community. As such, nurses are increasingly required to address new problems and meet the specific healthcare needs of important subgroups such as Taiwan's growing elderly population and young adult immigrants. Because policies have lagged behind such developments, nurses are expected to provide leadership in addressing these new challenges. Their status within the medical system, however, continues to reflect earlier, more 'traditional' stereotypes and gives inadequate credit for current responsibilities, which include providing long term healthcare and public health nursing, in addition to homecare responsibilities. In the face of these challenges, Taiwan community nurses have continued to develop new ways to provide care and demonstrated innovation, commitment and flexibility in their roles. If nurses are to continue to take a leading role in developing community healthcare services, they require professional recognition as well as appropriate policy support from regulatory and local government authorities.