[WOMEN AND RETIREMENT: KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRANSITION OF RETIREMENT OF WOMEN]

To describe the transition involved in the retirement process for women who have worked in the Barcelona work context.

Methodology qualitative, exploratory study.

The study was carried out in Barcelona, between the years 2008-2011.

Users of health centers that serve two profiles by type of work activity developed as managers and technical, or professional activity with little or no autonomy. MAIN INTERVENTTON: A technique discussion group was used until narratives did not add significantly to the information available. Transcription, analysis, coding, categorization, and content analysis to obtain the results.

The results reflected differences between these profiles involved in the sample when analyzing data related to the meaning of their working lives, expectations of retirement, the motives which determine it, their health during the initial period and their adaptation to retirement. There were many similarities and few differences when analyzing family responsibilities/ workloads before and after retirement.

These were based on the results described of the two distinct typologies of transition to retirement among women involved in the study in accordance with their profile of working life (the description used concepts and elements which model the Meleis Transition Theories as its basis). Some aspects of their experiences and needs are also stressed which, from a nursing perspective, lead to the identification of ambits, means of intervention which enable them to prepare and address this transition in a healthy way.