Abstract
Objective: To know the positive and negative aspects of the nursing profession from the perception of nurses working in a public hospital institution. Methods: Qualitative research with exploratory and descriptive approach. The subjects of the research were 15 nurses working in the mentioned institution, who accepted to participate in the study and were included in the inclusion criteria. As for the analysis of the data, the responses of the questionnaires were initially transcribed in order to organize the reports and affirmations in a certain order, starting a first grouping of responses. Responses were submitted to content analysis. Among the techniques of content analysis, thematic analysis was chosen. Results: Humanized care, recovery and rehabilitation of the health status of patients, correct procedures, a holistic view about the patient, professionalism and the achievement of the proposed goals in the therapy of clients were found to be the main positive aspects of the profession in the Perception of professionals. Among the negative aspects, lack of recognition, professional devaluation, work overload, poor working conditions, low salary gains, inadequate materials to provide qualified care and death of the patient prevailed. Conclusion: It is up to the managers of the health services together with the public power to develop strategies that impact the policies and the organizational dynamics of health services.