This study presents reflection based on the data collected in a doctorate thesis concerning nursing care in intensive cardiologic therapy. The nurses and nurse helpers were asked what care is and if they observed the people who perform the care, executing the care procedures. It was evidenced that differences exist between what is said about the care and what is done in practice, or rather, between speech and reality. Although they affirm that the care must privilege technical procedures and humanistic attitudes, the practice demonstrates the relevance given to the use of the devices and the attendance of the biologic necessities. We considered for this reflexion that this practice gives the responsibility of performing administrative-managerial and biological activities to the professionals. Thus, it does not justify the mooring cables to the technical aspects of the care. The challenge presented to the citizens is to identify the instant where one must emphasize the objective dimensions or those of the existential area that express the diversity of human feelings.
Nursing care; Intensive care units; Cardiology