The nurse manager's identity features in private hospitals of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Abstract

Aiming to understand subjective aspects of the work of nurse managers, this study analyzed their identity features in the context of hospital institutions. These were obtained through a questioning based on the introduction that the subjects make of themselves. It is a case study carried out according to the qualitative approach, in which nine nurse managers participated. They worked at four large- and medium-sized private hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte. The identity features were organized in accordance with the professional, institutional and individual planes, which encompass: the preservation and reinforcement of the nurse's social identity, professional trajectory as a natural evolution from assistance practices to management practices, practical experience valuation and permanence in activities related to the provision of direct assistance to the patient; identification with the organization; and questions concerning the private life and positive self-image expressed by the nurses. The study allowed the identification of outstanding features of a specific professional group, revealing influences of gender questions, of power relations and of culture on the social identity of the researched subjects.