This paper detailed a nursing experience of assisting a chronic psychiatric patient whose hope, social interaction, self-esteem and job performance had been affected by long term negative self-identity. The author verified the patient's problems and collected data through holistic nursing assessment, observations and interviews. Three nursing problems, low self-esteem, ineffective individual coping and social interaction deficit were identified. During a nearly one-year period, the author assisted the patient in improving job competence so as to enhance her self-identity. The patient could not only sustain employment for long term one year and improve self-acceptance but also alter disease recognition, rebuild self-confidence and live independently. This nursing experience could serve as a good reference for successfully reaching the goal of community psychiatric rehabilitation. Furthermore it is expected that with assistance more psychiatric patients could live confidently and independently in the community.