The nurse and the cronic inpatient: between the real and ideal

Abstract

In this study, the authors try to investigate the main features of the nurses, according to spinal cord injured inpatients and to the nurses who work for a public hospital in Belo Horizonte. The results show that the patients give more importance to the human qualities the nurses have rather than the technical skills, therefore, the nurses give more importance to these technical skills. Thus, the results show the different expectations in the patient-nurse relationship. It is important to highlight the necessity of these professionals reflexion and awareness, in order that their practice goes beyond the assistance to the biological individual, redirecting this assistance to the fulfilment of patients real needs.