The objectives of this study were to describe the care provided by the nursing team to children with communicable diseases; analyze the (im)possibilities of the nursing team towards these children; and discuss about the team strategies in face of the universe of these children. This qualitative study was performed at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, with 19 subjects. We observed how the nursing team takes care of the hospitalized children in a non-pediatric sector specialized in infectious diseases, and although they do not have any academic background in pediatrics, they commit to the care of the children by establishing different strategies. The nursing team interacts with the child during the procedures, breaks with or changes rules, observes the child, values the affective dimension of care, and, among other attitudes, uses games as a form of approximation. In conclusion, the care provided by the nursing team to children with CD is a (im)possible challenge, because the team uses strategies to deal with and solve the tensions of this reality.
Nursing; Communicable diseases; Child, hospitalized; Culture; Cartography