Citizen training in nursing: myth or potential utopia?

The objective of this study is to verify to what extent the concepts of university, citizenship, social compromise and health system influence the nursing practice. These topics were analysed through questionnaires answered by senior nursing students. The pedagogical project of the this course was used as reference to analyse students' speech. The study showed that these prospective professionals didn't have a satisfying advance concerning their view on education, health and conception of the world. This result suggested that this pedagogical proposal has to be constantly reexamined in order to broaden students' view on the aspects mentioned. It was noticed that students' discourses were heterogeneous, and contrasted with the apparent homogeneity in the understanding of specific contents. The research highlights the dialectical movement that affects the teaching practice, which oscillates between a critical formation and Descartes' logic. It was concluded that a continuous evaluation of the educational project is a vital strategy to consolidate a formation compromised with citizenship.