[Critical analysis of rituals in a medico-surgical nursing setting]

In this article, a historical review of the meanings of nursing rituals is presented aiming at constructing a critical analysis of the ritualistic practice in surgical nursing. Ritualistic actions in nursing and surgical nursing are supported by the history of the profession, by nurses' education and by the myths in the organizational and cultural and surgical settings. These actions are criticized by authors in face of the present theoretical and professional thought.