OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of students of the 9th period of the Undergraduate Nursing Course of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte regarding the concept of integrality of the Brazilian National Health System.
METHODS:
This was a qualitative study conducted in the Nursing Department. The sample was composed of 26 students from the final semester of the course. For the data collection a questionnaire with open questions was completed after the consent of the participants. The interpretation of the information followed thematic content analysis according to Bardin.
RESULTS:
The students showed that they had an adequate formation regardingthe concept of integrality, describing good theoretical learning as well as the essential characteristics of the principle. However, there were still gaps with regard to the union of theory and practice.
CONCLUSION:
In this sense, teachers could invest in teaching methodology which combines theory and practice, whichmay help the application of theoretical knowledge in the healthcare services.
Nursing; National Health System; Education