OBJECTIVES: To identify the national scientific production in human resources in nursing, to analyze this scientific production, and to establish categories for its classification. METHOD: A literature review was conducted in several databases. The search was limited to manuscripts published between 1986 and 2003. RESULTS: Initially a total of 539 publications were retrieved. Screening of the abstract of these publications generated a final sample of 162 publications addressing human resources in nursing. The analysis of these publications showed that 60 (37%) addressed human resources in nursing from administrative and managerial perspective, 45 (28%) from nursing practice perspective, and 39 (24%) from educational and professional training perspective. CONCLUSION: The study allowed the validation of typology adopted for the investigation of human resources in nursing, the updating of the state of the science in human resources in nursing in the country, and the elaboration of an electronic table containing the scientific production about the human resource in nursing, which will be made available for public consultation.
Nursing staff; Health manpower; Nursing; Nursing
