[Actions of nurses in a psychiatric hospitalization unit at a university hospital]

Nursing care in mental health has been undergoing a process of paradigmatic change, from the asylum model to the pychosocial support. The aim of this study is to identify nurses' practices in a psychiatric ward in a university hospital. An exploratory and descriptive study of qualitative approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The results showed the apprehension of new concepts to guide mental health care: embracement, comprehensive care and individual consideration of the users' subjectivity guided nurses' practices. These practices are permeated by issues that go beyond the biological aspects, and include family and society.