Nursing care in surgical inpatient unit: perception of patients

Abstract

Objective: to understand the meaning of nursing care in a surgical inpatient unit in the perceptions of patients. Method: it was a descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study conducted in the months of August to October 2010 with seven surgical patients of a medium-sized hospital in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interview and were subjected to content analysis of Bardin. Results: two categories emerged: Perception of nursing care in the surgical inpatient unit; and Feelings experienced in the surgical ward. Conclusion: surgical patients have different care needs, being critical to have sensitivity to be able to realize what each patient needs. Therefore, nurses need to rethink their daily practice, so that care is not only provided in a technical and unreflective way.