Social representation of out-patient surgery: understanding the assistance process and the role of the nurse/Representacao social da cirurgia ambulatorial: compreendendo o processo de atendimento e o papel do enfermeiro/Representacion social de la cirugia ambulatorial: comprendendo el proceso de la assistencia y el papel de la enfermera

The out-patient surgery proves to be an efficient technology. Therefore, this study aims at describing and discussing representations of out-patient surgery to the children's caretaking companions. It is a qualitative piece of research developed with the support of the social representations theory. Data was first collected in Rio de Janeiro, 2011, through interviews with 20 (twenty) caretaking companions to children having undergone surgery. Data was further analyzed on the basis of content analysis. Results showed five categories: senses and meanings of out-patient surgery to caretaking companions; nurse and assistance, and surgery processes; pre and trans surgical: actions, feelings, ways; pos surgical: feelings and attitudes; and health assistance process: a comparative analysis between out-patient and hospital surgeries. Conclusion shows users had a positive representation of both surgery and nurse action in that context.