Professional autonomy and nursing care systematization: the nurses' perception

percepção de enfermeiros

Abstract

This study aims at verifying nurses' perception of professional autonomy and the Systematization of Nursing Assistance (in Portuguese, SAE) in a hospital. It is a qualitative and descriptive research. Data was collected by a focus group in the second half of 2007 at a mid-sized private hospital in Curitiba-PR., and analyzed according to thematic analysis. Fifteen nurses working at inpatient units took part in the study. Three categories emerged: SAE as an instrument to reach autonomy; Queries on SAE as an instrument in order to reach autonomy; and Knowledge and decision making to attain autonomy. The participants considered the knowledge afforded by SAE as a motivation to achieve professional autonomy. The present study encourages reflections on the empowerment and more visibility of nursing actions.