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This is a theoretical-reflective study that aimed to analyze the contexts associated with gynaecological care for women with physical disabilities. Discussion consisted of contextual analysis according to Hinds, Chaves and Cypress, leading to four interconnected layers: immediate, specific, general and metacontext. Analysis showed that gynaecological assistance to clients with physical disabilities is influenced by attitudinal, structural, financial and informational barriers. Other influential issues are social beliefs and stigmas and the persistence of a biomedical model, which is hegemonic in this type of assistance. Therefore, gynaecological care must be valued based on the holistic paradigm offered by a transdisciplinary team in orderto provide quality care to women with physical disabilities.

Qualitative study that aimed at understanding the social representation of a parent with a premature child. The data were collected between May and June 2008, in a semi-structured interview with 17 parents whose premature children were hospitalized in the NICU of two public institutions in Natal, Brazil. The reports were analyzed based on the Social Representations Theory (SRT). The results reveal that the hospitalization of their children causes parents to experience emotions of fear, anguish, anxiety, loneliness interspersed with those of faith, joy and hope. For a parent the NICU is a frightening environment, albeit necessary for the specialized care that the conditions of the premature newborn require.

It is a qualitative study with the objective of identifying the man's perception regarding the changes that took place in his marital relationship during the child's breast-feeding. The data were collected through interview with 13 fathers. The results indicate that men develop attitudes and feelings relative to the son and the wife; they recognize that the alterations in their marital relationship are more evident during the first three months of the child's life and they try to understand or to demonstrate indifference towards the changes. Although breastfeeding results in modifications in the spouses' relationship, the fathers do not consider them as something negative in their lives.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relationship between the concept analysis process and critical thinking skills in nursing. Utilizing a discursive essay approach, it is argued that the concept analysis technique enhances critical thinking. The steps of the concept analysis are analyzed as to the inherent cognitive operations that represent critical reasoning processes. Reflecting on an experience with undergraduate nursing students, the technique of concept analysis is evaluated as a didactic activity that enhances critical thinking. It is concluded that both processes complement each other in the rethinking of nursing and in confronting challenging practice situations.

The purpose of the study was to verify the knowledge of male university students regarding induced abortion. The sample was comprised of 71 male students that corresponded to 70% of the population made up of students from different health related programs at a federal university. Data was collected in August and October of 1998, by means of a questionnaire that was based on two previous exploratory studies. The respondents were 17 to 22 years old, catholic, single and financially dependent. The results demonstrated that a large percentage of male students had knowledge of what an induced abortion was and of its consequences, as well as of the methods used to induce the fetal loss. The respondents expressed a negative opinion about abortion and placed the responsibility for such a decision on the couple. They also indicated that besides the woman, other individuals, such as friends and family members bared some responsibility for the decision to end or not a pregnancy.

The aims of this study were to analyse the conception of ethics in the nurse's speech and practice, to verify its influence on nurses formation, and to investigate the nurses views regarding to the contribution of ethics to the comprehension of the moral reality and to the critical analysis of the nursing practice. The methodology focused on the qualitative analyses of data collected through the techniques of: document collection and analysis, group interviews, and observations of the nurses ethical behaviour during their practice. According to he results, the nurses conception of ethics relates in satisfaction to their work, to professional discrimination, and to corporate issues of health team. No reference was made to citizenship concerns. There is also a setting away from ethics understanding while moral behaviour and a critical view of the profession and of health care.

This study aimed at identifying the role of the nurse with a graduate degree at the service level based on nurses and service directors expectations in health care institutions. A total of 278 nurses and 25 service directors responded to a questionnaire and an instrument was designed to measure their expectations towards the nurse with a postgraduation degree. The results indicate that nurses and service directors hope nurses with a postgraduation degree to be highly qualified to provide care. While service directors express a slight difference in favor of both the master degree and the deep knowledge of the specialty, nurses expectations in relation to it, are a little greater in all aspects. Service directors priorize refresh courses for nurses while nurses priorize specialization courses. The study has implications for a deeper discussion of these professionals functions in service and for the objective of postgraduate education programs in the region.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the "lato sensu" graduate programs of study of the Department of Nursing in the UFRN, and to know the perspectives of its students and faculty. A total of 67 questionnaires were applied to 14 professors and 53 ex-students. The sources of data were: a survey of the scientific knowledge produced by the faculty; specialization program final reports; partial 1989-1991 program evaluations; and, the final report of the first Graduate Program Evaluation Seminar (1992). Eventhough the results of the evaluation were positive, some aspects of the program were found to need further analysis so that future graduate studies might be improved. These aspects were: revision of the curriculum content, improvement of the space environment, and improvement of the bibliographic resources.