RESUMO:Apesar das enfermeiras chamarem a si mesmas de profissionais do cuidado e acreditarem que a essência da enfermagem é o cuidado, nós sabemos que ainda não está suficientemente claro o que é cuidado, suas características e seus objetivos. Nesse sentido, muitas concepções de cuidado coexistem e têm influenciado as práticas de enfermagem. Essas concepções variam conforme perspectivas teórico-filosóficas e ambientes da prática. Uma dessas concepções que mais tem influenciado a prática de enfermagem brasileira é da teoria de autocuidado de Dorothea Orem. No entanto, mais recentemente, uma outra perspectiva vem emergindo no contexto da enfermagem brasileira; a noção de cuidado de si de Michel Foucault. O principal propósito desse trabalho é analisar criticamente e problematizar a noção de cuidado de si mesmo e o conceito de autocuidado para, num segundo momento, tentar fazer dialogar uma e outra concepção, colocando alguns elementos que consideramos significativos, a fim de estabelecer, se possível, algum tipo de complementaridade. ABSTRACT:Although nurses call themselves care professionals and believe that the essence of nursing is care, we have noticed that it is not yet sufficiently clear what care means; what its characteristics are; its objectives and so on. Thus, many conceptions of care co-exist and have influenced current nursing practices, which vary according to their respective theoretic-philosophical perspectives and practice environments. Based on this, we can say that one of the most influential nursing theories within Brazilian nursing is Dorothea Orem's theory of self-care. However, more recently, another perspective has emerged within the context of Brazilian nursing; Michel Foucault's Care of the self. The main purpose of this paper is to critically examine the Foucault notion of Care of the self and Orem's concept of Self-care in order to establish, if possible, a dialogue between one and the other notion within the context of care practice in Nursing. RESUMEN:Aunque las enfermeras se denominen a sí mismas como las profesionales del cuidado y consideren este último como la esencia de la enfermería, sabemos que todavía no está suficientemente claro cuál es el significado del concepto de cuidado, cuáles son sus características y sus objetivos. Varias concepciones de cuidado coexisten y vienen influenciando cotidianamente las prácticas de enfermería, las cuales son distintas de acuerdo con la perspectiva teórico filosófica y con el contexto de la práctica. En relación a este punto, una de las teorías de enfermería más influyentes en Brasil es la teoría de autocuidado de Dorotea Orem. Recientemente, otra perspectiva fue surgiendo en el contexto de la enfermería brasileña a partir del concepto cuidado de sí mismo de Michel Foucault. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar críticamente la noción foucaultiana del cuidado de sí mismo y el concepto de autocuidado de Orem en el contexto de las prácticas de cuidado en enfermería. El principal propósito de este trabajo es analizar críticamente y problemat...

Ethical values in caring encounters on a geriatric ward from the next of kin's perspective: An interview studyThe aim of this study was to identify and describe the governing ethical values that next of kin experience in interaction with nurses who care for elderly patients at a geriatric clinic. Interviews with 14 next of kin were conducted and data were analysed by constant comparative analysis. Four categories were identified: receiving, showing respect, facilitating participation and showing professionalism. These categories formed the basis of the core category: 'Being amenable', a concept identified in the next of kin's description of the ethical values that they and the elderly patients perceive in the caring encounter. Being amenable means that the nurses are guided by ethical values; taking into account the elderly patient and the next of kin. Nurses' focusing on elderly patients' well-being as a final criterion affects the next of kin and their experience of this fundamental condition for high-quality care seems to be fulfilled.

This empirical study explores participants' perceptions of information and understanding of their children's and their own involvement in a longitudinal screening, the ABIS Study. ABIS (All Babies In Southeast Sweden) is a multicentre, longitudinal research screening for Type 1 diabetes and multifactorial diseases involving 17 005 children and their families. For this study, a random selection of mothers was made, using perinatal questionnaire serial numbers from the ABIS study. In total, 293 of these mothers completed an anonymous questionnaire (response rate 73.3%). Our findings from the questionnaire indicate a marked difference between the reported satisfaction with and understanding of the information provided on the one hand and the significant lack of knowledge of some of the aims and methods of the ABIS screening on the other, namely concerning high-risk identification of involved children, potential prevention and future questionnaires. Two questions evoked by our results are: (1) what information is required for participants in longitudinal studies involving children? and (2) how do we ensure and sustain understanding, and thus in a prolonging, informed consent in these studies? This study underlines the importance of an increased understanding of the ethical issues that longitudinal research on children raise and the need to discuss how information and informed consent strategies should be analysed and designed in longitudinal studies.

The aim of the study was to identify nurses’ ethical values, which become apparent through their behaviour in the interactions with older patients in caring encounters at a geriatric clinic.Descriptions of ethics in a caring practice are a problem since they are vague compared with the four principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.A Grounded Theory methodology was used. In total, 65 observations and follow-up interviews with 20 nurses were conducted, and data were analysed by constant comparative analysis.Three categories were identified: showing consideration, connecting, and caring for. These categories formed the basis of the core category: “Corroborating.” In corroborating, the focus is on the person in need of integrity and self-determination; that is, the autonomy principle. A similar concept was earlier described in regard to confirming. Corroborating deals more with support and interaction. It is not enough to be kind and show consideration (i.e., to benefit someone); nurses must also connect and care for the older person (i.e., demonstrate non-maleficence) in order to corroborate that person.The findings of this study can improve the ethics of nursing care. There is a need for research on development of a high standard of nursing care to corroborate the older patients in order to maintain their autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. The principal of justice was not specifically identified as a visible nursing action. However, all older patients received treatment, care, and reception in an equivalent manner.

The majority of the patients had experienced health care staff disobeying prevailing ethical principles. These events were not always perceived as violations. The reason for this discrepancy needs to be explored.