The objective of this essay is to articulate theoretical-conceptual aspects of nursing as a profession, a scientific discipline, and labour contributing to reflection concerning nursing knowledge and professional practice exercised in the context of collective work in health care. It reviews concepts from sociological theory and epistemology in order to analyze nursing in the context of scientific community, and the sociology of professions, and the work process theories in health care. This paper argues that nursing has the attributes of a profession as well as a scientific discipline, and that the limits of nursing practice need to be historically and socially contextualized. It concludes that as a social practice and discipline, nursing faces scientific and political challenges which demand a permanent process of construction.

Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura que situa as principais abordagens teóricas da administração destacando suas características, contribuições e limitações para a organização do trabalho na sociedade. Mostra a influência destas teorias na organização do trabalho no setor saúde e especialmente na enfermagem demonstrando a influência predominante, até hoje, do modelo taylorista/fordista de organização do trabalho e de duas teorias administrativas, a clássica e a burocrática. Conclui apontando os limites destas teorias para enfrentar os desafios atuais da gestão no setor saúde e para a realização de um trabalho de melhor qualidade.

Based on ergology and work process theorization, the study aims to contribute to reflections on health collective work, emphasizing its specificity and difficulties in building and managing groups of workers. It deals with work as a human activity that dialectically comprises the application of a prescribed protocol and a unique and historical perspective. Health work involves a relationship among individuals who act in the drama of using themselves and manage their own work; it is influenced by the history of health professions and macro-political determinations. In conclusion, this health work complexity needs to be considered in the process of management of professional teams/groups of workers, in a way that actions can interact and enable the implementation of a new health care project in the perspective of comprehensiveness.

No abstract