Maria Luiza Bevilaqua Brum

Protocolo de assistência de enfermagem a pessoas com feridas como instrumento para autonomia profissional

Aim: to know whether nurses use protocols in the care of patients with chronic wounds and identify them as tools for promoting professional autonomy. Method: this is a descriptive exploratory research, conducted with 16 nurses working in direct care in clinics. For data collection, a semi-structured instrument was applied in August 2012. Results: although the nurses understand the meaning of autonomy in wound care, few of them apply existing protocols and occasionally exercise their autonomy. The nurses seem to be accustomed to the work dynamics established in the health services, focused on and driven by medical therapy. Conclusion: the research findings contribute for the understanding of the nursing practice and promote reflections aimed at developing proposals to assist in the achievement of nurses’ professional autonomy