Reflexion on the concept of nursing situation and variations by degrees of complexity in daily assistance. We point out the relevance in understanding the hospitalized client problem-situation in relations to degrees of complexity minor, medium and major, aiming to promote the development of nursing professional and students crtitical thought. The understand the complexity of situations require the identification of events involving the patient, the environment and any other that may interfere with the dynamic of assistance. Therefore, the patient situation approach will include various events related to "knowing" and "doing" of nurses and decisions taken to solving situations in the practice. Finally, the complexity of situations does not comprise only the physical and pathological process of the patient, but also the various factors that, according to professional experience and its relation with environment factors, will determine the degree of complexity of nursing situation.
Nursing; Situation; Assistance
