This qualitative study had the purpose to observe and describe nursing actions performed by nurses at a state psychiatric institution. Eight nurses who work in the institution participated in the study. In order to collect data, authors used participant observation and registration in a field record book. The discussions regarding the results were based on research about nursing practice in psychiatric institutions. Data evidenced that nursing actions were predominantly bureaucratic and administrative and that the professionals studied did not have a defined position about the need to perform interventions in the nursing care provided in this institution.
psychiatric nursing; psychiatric hospitals; mental health