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Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Knowledge and practice in mental health nursing care
Teresa Cristina da Silva Kurimoto1, Claudia Maria de Mattos Penna2, Débora Isane Ratner Kirschbaum Nitkin3
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, School of Nursing, Department of Applied Nursing. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Objective::
To understand mental health nursing care based on the concept of the subject of the unconscious proposed by Lacan.
Method::
A narrative study was carried out with 19 nurses, chosen based on their theoretical approach or referral by other participants, through the snowball sampling technique. The interviews were carried out in person or digitally, and were recorded and fully transcribed.
Results::
The analysis was carried out based on Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis, approaching nursing care as it acts on the body, secretions, and excretions, to distinguish it from the spirit of fineness. Effects on care are discussed, considering the subject of the unconscious with its knowledge, creating unique exits (sinthome). In this situation, professionals are required to abstain from a position of knowing what is better for the Other.
Final Considerations::
This nursing care perspective offers contributions when discussing the centrality of the subject and words in the care process.
Objetivo::
Compreender o cuidado de enfermagem em saúde mental a partir da concepção de sujeito do inconsciente proposta por Lacan.
MéTodo::
Pesquisa narrativa, realizada com 19 enfermeiros, determinados por meio de abordagem teórica ou indicação de outro participante, pela técnica de snowball. As entrevistas foram realizadas pessoalmente ou por meio digital, gravadas e transcritas na íntegra.
Resultados::
Da análise, fundamentada na psicanálise freudiana e lacaniana, tomou-se o cuidado de enfermagem em seus atos sobre o corpo, suas secreções e excreções, para localizá-lo a partir do espírito de fineza. Discutem-se os efeitos para o cuidado quando se considera o sujeito do inconsciente com seu saber construindo saídas únicas - Sinthoma. Essa condição requer do profissional abster-se de uma posição de saber o que é melhor para o outro.
ConsideraçõEs Finais::
Essa perspectiva de cuidado de enfermagem traz contribuições ao problematizar a centralidade do sujeito e da palavra nas práticas de cuidado.
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