Social entrepreneurship: translation of knowledge and practices in nursing students in Brazil

Abstract

Background: The Brazilian curriculum guidelines for undergraduate health courses encourage social entrepreneurship activities by advocating the training of reflective professionals regarding different dimensions of health. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the professional skills to develop these social activities during academic training. Objective: To understand the meaning to Brazilian nursing students of social entrepreneurship activities developed in a recycling association. Methodology: The Grounded Theory approach was used in this study. Data was collected from 2016 to 2017 by interviewing 25 students and 4 workers from a recycling association in southern Brazil. Results: Initially, students demonstrated distancing and prejudice, then indignation and nonconformity and, finally, a change in the way of thinking and acting. Three facets resulted from the interviews: Deconstructing and constructing of preconception; Knowledge and practices; and Promoting transformations. Conclusion: The meaning of social entrepreneurship activities was configured as a deconstructing, constructing, and reconstructing process of pre-conceived knowledge. Its meaning transcends personal and social boundaries and enables a movement of approximation, identification, and translation of knowledge and practices.