The Dynamics of Nursing Practice

The work of nurses, according to Leopardi, Gelbeck and Ramos, 2012, is characterised by four dimensions: direct care for individuals or groups, from conception to death; educational dimensions, consisting of professional training, continuing education and health education processes with users; administrative/managerial dimensions, coordinating and organising nursing work and participating in health care management; investigative dimensions, producing knowledge to support and guide care, management and health education processes. Various factors influence the suffering of nursing professionals, such as work overload, excessive working hours, overcrowded care units, devaluation of the profession, constant work with suffering and pain, among others. Nursing demands attention and a more humane approach to nursing professionals is needed.