Do reducionismo à complexidade: o exame físico de enfermagem no cuidado com o corpo

Abstract

The primary purpose of this document is to provide an investigation of physical examination in nursing and its implications concerning body care under a complex perspective, a view that emerges to help understand the client as being one and manifold, endowed with features that go beyond the pathology, which are always related and should be addressed in the process of health care. Outlined as objectives are: the description of physical examination by nurses from the Family Health Program (PSF); analysis of articulated knowhow underlying physical exam care which guides the practice of nursing care; and the discussion of physical examination in its complexity in the light of a transdisciplinary approach in nursing care. The method adopted was the qualitative research, being descriptive and exploratory, which used observation and semistructured interviews as instruments for data collection, aimed at nurses from the Family Health Program of Itaboraí (RJ). The interviews produced the Collective Subject Discourse, an analytic technique proposed by Lefèvre and Lefèvre, whose ideas gave rise to three central themes: "Towards a reflection on the action: the Description of the Physical Examination by Nurses of the PSF," "From Disciplinary to Transdisciplinary: Scientific Guides to Unfold the Physical Examination and Care Practices in the Family Health Program " and "A path to Complexity: Mentioned Aspects of Physical Examination in Nursing." It was concluded that physical examination can contemplate human features which may enable comprehensive care. However, it is necessary that the nurse carry out body investigation, integrating knowledge, critical thinking and maintaining a professional attitude and ethics, given the complex nature of the process he performs. Moreover, intellectual, cognitive, reflective and critical competences of future nurses must be strengthened during their formation, seeking a change in mechanized practice care.