Nurses’ social representations of nursing care systematization

Abstract

Background: Nursing care systematization (NCS) is a methodology based on a solid theoretical and scientific framework that allows planning, organizing, and systematizing care. Objectives: To identify the meanings that nurses assign to NCS in a hospital located in the city of Itajubá, Minas Gerais-Brazil. Methodology: This was an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach using a purposive sample of 30 nurses. Data were analyzed using the discourse of the collective subject method. Results: The following central ideas emerged as meanings assigned to NCS: it is a care guiding strategy; it is an activity that is carried out exclusively by nurses; and it does not work in practice. Conclusion: Although NCS is a widely discussed topic in professional training and practice, its implementation in clinical practice is still questioned. However, NCS is recognized as a care guiding strategy and a nursing activity.