Brazilian literature on nursing work founded on marxist categories

This article discusses the Brazilian scientific literature on nursing work based on Marxist categories, with the aim of investigating their contributions and tendencies. The study is a quanti-qualitative review of 97 articles published between 1981 and 2008, indexed in the LILACS. It is discussed: number and periodical distribution; themes; methodological and conceptual approaches. It was identified: a growing body of literature on nursing especially from 2000 onwards; the growth of approaches on the subjects, their perceptions and social interaction; the incorporation recently into the debate on caring and nursing care management; the predominance of qualitative research and, from the 1990s onwards, the incorporation of concepts from other theoretical paths linked to Marxists categories. There was evidence of a search for understanding of the movements, contradictions and dilemmas in nursing as a heterogeneous social practice.