CONSULTA DE ENFERMAGEM SUSTENTADA NA RELAÇÃO DE AJUDA: A PRÁTICA ASSISTENCIAL À PESSOA PORTADORA DO MAL DE CHAGAS

It is an assistance project to patients suffering from Chagas disease, users of the “Day Clinicforthe Patients Suffering from Chagas Disease” at a Teaching Hospital in Curitiba/ Brazil, from May/2001 to August/2002. The theoretical background chosen was Joyce Travelbee’s Theory of Human to Human Relationship. It aimed to implement nursing assessment based on a helping relationship, outline a profile of the patients suffering from Chagas disease- the clinic’s users - and work out some guidelines for a helping interview. The following concepts were used: Human Being, Nursing, Environment, Health/Disease, Helping Relationship. The work undertaken pointed out that the theoretical approach used has enabled to render humanized care, considering the patient a unique human being, with his/her own background and culture, favoring his/her participation in the process and fostering his/her potentialities. The study brought about nurses’ pondering on delivered caring. It was concluded that knowledge is fostered through daily learning with the patient who becomes the main agent in the process, delineating ways and pointing manners to be assisted. Work relied on a concept guideline shows the way to be followed, sets parameters - and consequently, confidence in actions - contributes for professional autonomy and leads to improvement in the educational practice. Thus, the initial theoretical body has changed into meaningful practice.