Abstract

RUTZ PORTO, Adrize  and  BUSS THOFEHRN, Maira. The political empowerment of nurses in hospital practice. Index Enferm [online]. 2015, vol.24, n.1-2, pp.20-24. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962015000100005.

Objective: to understand the search process for the political empowerment of nurses in hospital practice. Methods: it is a qualitative study, which was attended by 10 nurses from different units of a teaching hospital in southern Rio Grande do Sul. The data were collected from April to July 2011, through simple observation, semi-structured interview and focus group. The resulting content was handled under thematic analysis, emerging the themes about obstacles, as to search of nurses for the political empowerment and potentialities to search of nurses for political empowerment. Results: it was possible to visualize the correlation of forces existing in the hospital with respect to the nurse as a political being. Conclusions: on the one hand, there is alienation, the spread of conformism, on the other, possible means of power in working together, by positioning with the knowledge and critical awareness about the work process and interpersonal relations.

Keywords : Nursing; Politics; Power; Hospital care; Work environment.