Abstract

BRITO, Maria José Menezes et al. The nurse manager's identity features in private hospitals of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Saude soc. [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.2, pp. 45-57. ISSN 0104-1290.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12902008000200006.

Aiming to understand subjective aspects of the work of nurse managers, this study analyzed their identity features in the context of hospital institutions. These were obtained through a questioning based on the introduction that the subjects make of themselves. It is a case study carried out according to the qualitative approach, in which nine nurse managers participated. They worked at four large- and medium-sized private hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte. The identity features were organized in accordance with the professional, institutional and individual planes, which encompass: the preservation and reinforcement of the nurse's social identity, professional trajectory as a natural evolution from assistance practices to management practices, practical experience valuation and permanence in activities related to the provision of direct assistance to the patient; identification with the organization; and questions concerning the private life and positive self-image expressed by the nurses. The study allowed the identification of outstanding features of a specific professional group, revealing influences of gender questions, of power relations and of culture on the social identity of the researched subjects.

Keywords : Nurse Manager; Identity Features; Private Hospitals.