Caregiving in the perspective of coexistence, respect and tolerance: perceptions of graduate students in nursing

Abstract

The present study is of qualitative-exploratory character and developed in the context of a discipline, in a meeting group of twelve master’s degree students of Nursing of a Federal University. The purpose was to accomplish personal reflection and to identify the students' perceptions about the relationship among caregiving and the virtues of coexistence, respect and tolerance. Data collection was carried out during the meeting, through individual instrument and group dynamics, observation and recording of the speeches. The analysis was composed of the description of the data grouped by similarity. The identified categories were: Virtues observed in the caretakers; and Perceptions about caregiving and its relationship with the virtues of coexistence, respect and tolerance. The virtues of coexistence, respect and tolerance are interrelated and they are part of caregiving. The coexistence leads one to think, to contemplate and to accept imperfections, being solidary and learning how to take care of oneself, of the others, and of the universe. It was concluded that the accomplished activity serves as an example for the Nursing professionals, allowing them to carry out reflections with the students and professionals that integrate the nursing /health team, in order to strengthen the care in practice and better understand the sense of caregiving.