A profissão de enfermagem no século XXI

Abstract

The present article presents the sociological analysis of the nursing profession, focussing the specificities of the profession on the basis of the component elements of a profession, according to the theoretical system of the sociology of professions. At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the new millennium, nursing faces crucial questions for the profession, which bring back the need to restructure the strategic considerations that make up the political agenda of the nursing profession. Specific knowledge, professional qualification, particularities of the work process, monopoly of the professional exercise, and the configuration of the hierarchy of the nursing team are some of the items dealt within this article. As one of the essential professions in the health area, nursing needs to reach the next century with a new perspective, knowing how and in which conditions it will develop in a context of paradigmatic changes. Considering this new context, a political agenda for nursing professionals will have to contemplate the several aspects that make up a profession, that is, specific knowledge, exclusive labor market, form of organization, among others.

Systematization of nursing care and the formation of professional identity

“…In the case of Brazilian nursing, it relies on a vast production on the professionalization process and on the construction of the professional identity. Most of the authors (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) substantiate their analyses on the sociological theory of professions and in a historical framework. All studies consulted highlighted the historical and social nature of nursing professionalization and work and the attributes that define it as a profession and a scientific discipline, which have care as the subject of study and work.…”

“…It is also worth noting that the establishment of a specific knowledge that could delimit the essentiality of the profession and an appropriate space of power is crucial for professional autonomy (20) . Regarding this aspect, there are controversies whether the knowledge constructed by nursing would lead to sufficient specificity to achieve the necessary identity for delimiting an appropriate space of power and, consequently, professional autonomy (13,21) . However, the angle of our analysis will not address this issue.…”

A visibilidade da profissão de enfermeiro: reconhecendo conquistas e lacunas

“…Necessita de uma agenda política específica que expresse os vários aspectos constitutivos de uma profissão, isto é, o saber específico, o mercado de trabalho, a forma de organização, que apontem sobre a necessidade da categoria participar mais efetivamente das diferentes iniciativas que dizem respeito à saúde, inclusive, as empreendidas no âmbito internacional, no sentido de ampliar a visibilidade do saber e do fazer em enfermagem (13,14) . Além dos elementos já pontuados, o enfermeiro tem a necessidade de mergulhar na realidade do indivíduo, de estabelecer vínculos de solidariedade e de ver as coisas acontecerem da forma mais rápida e resolutiva possível (6) .…”

O agir comunicativo na construção do conhecimento em enfermagem

“…O que fazer para que ele consiga ser protagonista para a autonomia e desenvolvimento social? A aquisição de um corpo de conhecimentos transmitidos na escola servem de base para agir no mercado de trabalho, estando apto a prestar serviços especializados em seu campo de atuação (11) . Em relação a esses serviços, afirma-se que o profissional não é aquele que apenas executa sua profissão, mas também àquele que sabe pensar e refazê-la (7) .…”