The aim was to analyze scientific nursing production, published between 2005 and 2010, which used the convergent-assistential methodology. It is an integrative review to respond to the question of the suitability of its methodological design in the studies which stated that they used it. Seven Brazilian Nursing periodicals were consulted from November to December 2010. Based on reading of the abstracts of the publications which responded to the stipulated period, 19 articles were selected and submitted to thorough evaluation, with exploratory reading of the complete texts and filling out of a data collection instrument, followed by analytical reading with textual and thematic analysis, and interpretive analysis of the data. The research's characterization is depicted through the showing of methodological designs, thematic designs, contexts, participants, insertion of the researcher in the assistential context, and relevant contributions and aspects indicated in the different studies. A growing use of this methodology was identified, and the need for greater attention to its specific characteristics, in the description of its methodological procedures, and in the research's contributions is inferred.
Nursing; Qualitative research; Nursing research
