This study assessed the final nursing orientation for hospital release in what refers to the medicamental therapeutics in a clinic of hospital internment. The sample was comprised of 38 patients that had hospital release in December of 2001, February of 2002 and of the nurses who oriented them. The technique used for collecting data was non-participant observation. The results obtained were: inadequate places for orientation, few written information, short time for orientation and no use of strategies that confirm the comprehension of the orientation on the part of the patient. The conclusion is that those problems may be contributing for the occurrence of errors in the use of medicines at home, after hospital release.
Medication errors; Patient discharge; Patient education