This qualitative study aimed to identify nursing care offered to families of individuals who attempted suicide. Data was collected in May and June 2008, from 21 active nurses in Emergency Care Units, of three cities in the South of Brazil, through a semi-structured interview. From the analysis two categories emerged: "The professional practice and care to the individual's family attempt suicide " and "Emotions that emerge in the life of a professional", which reveal that the families are usually sought for information on the case, but they rarely constitute focus of the assistance. Professionals appear to be unhappy with this situation. However, perceive themselves limited, although they believe that more attention would institute effective measures to a humanized care. These results can subsidize the performance of nurses with views to an assistance that considers the person and the family in a holistic manner.
Suicide; Nursing Care; Family