A policy analysis of teamwork as a proposal for healthcare humanization: implications for nursing

Aim To analyse the implications of the political devices of the Brazilian National Humanization Policy, Singular Therapeutic Project and Reference Team and Matrix Support, for nursing as a professional discipline. Background The Brazilian Unified Health System, SUS‐Brazil, has as its principles regarding health care: universal access at all levels of care; equality and non‐discrimination; integrality; community participation; and political and administrative decentralization, regionalization, and hierarchization. The National Humanization Policy is a public health policy that serves as the methodological apparatus for the application of the SUS‐Brazil principles. Reference Teams refers to inter‐ and transdisciplinary/professional teams. These team approaches are associated with increased quality of care. Methods Qualitative lexical content policy analysis of the official documents for the Brazilian National Humanization Policy. Findings The Reference Team model that is used to carry out Singular Therapeutic Projects leads to discussion of disciplinary boundaries in the context of health care. Conclusion and implications for nursing and health policy The Brazilian National Humanization Policy demands inclusion of various kinds of knowledge and networking. Research is needed to elucidate the nature of nursing care and its distinctive character in relation to the work objectives of other professional disciplines.