The aim of this thesis was to conduct a situational assessment of human resources planning at one local health authority, in order to determine how decentralisation has impacted the effectiveness of human resources planning.

Diss. Umeå : Univ., 2003.

No description available.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the main objectives of the new South African government who came into power in 1994 was to improve the daily living conditions of its citizens. To what extent did the government succeed in this objective? This is the basic research question informing the present study. In order to keep it within manageable proportions, the study investigated a very specific area of service delivery, namely the delivery of public health services. This was further narrowed down to the Western Cape and more specifically, to the role of public hospitals in the area. The Western Cape promised to be an interesting case, because although the government of national unity was dominated by the ANC, the Western Cape was ruled by a NNP dominated coalition. On the national level, the Province had to follow national policy guidelines, while on the provincial level it had more freedom to formulate and implement its own policies. The study itself consists of two parts. The first concerns policy formulation, the second policy implementation. As far as policy formulation is concerned, a study was made of basic documents articulating the fundamental values, national priorities and main objectives informing government policy. These included the Freedom Charter, the Constitution, and the Reconstruction and Development Program. It was found that these values and priorities were in general well translated into policy options on both the national and provincial level, especially in the various documents aimed at transforming the national health system. The second part of the study investigates the implementation of the broad policy guidelines in the area of public heath in selected public hospitals in the Western Cape. The main method of investigation was the use of structured interviews with representative employees from all different levels. The findings were therefore of a qualitative rather than a quantitative nature. The focal areas selected were personnel management issues, human resource planning, labour relation issues and human resource development issues. The main findings were that the formulation of policy both from basic values to the level of health care policies and from the national to provincial level in general was quite successful. On the other hand, there were serious shortcomings in the implementation of these policies on various levels. The investigation revealed a mixed and often contradictory picture. Although some hospitals made good progress in some respects, there is still a long way before quality health care will be delivered to all patients. A commitment to equity in the health services of the country implies a commitment to correcting the historical gender, class and racial imbalances in the development of human recourses for health care. Of necessity, a compassionate and caring health service will address the issue of corrective action. There is a real need to provide proper planning of those most disadvantaged by apartheid in managerial skills to fill managerial positions in the health sector. It is therefore is necessary to introduce as a matter of urgency new health management programmes, which will promote efficient and effectiveness management at all levels of health care service delivery. Current health managers need to be reoriented from the predominantly bureaucratic, rule-based approach towards a participative approach. The development of managerial capacity in areas such as participative and change management, leadership development, strategic planning, programme management and evaluation, and policy development and implementation is of crucial importance. The study concludes with a series of specific recommendations with regard to affirmative action, managerial and institutional capacity, human resource planning, and training needs for various sectors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die hoofdoelstellings van die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse regering wat in 1994 aan bewind gekom het, was om die leefomstandinghede van al die land se inwoners te verbeter. Tot watter mate het die regering geslaag in hierdie doelwit? Dit is die basiese navorsingsvraag onderliggend aan hierdie studie. Ten einde die ondersoek binne hanteerbare grense te hou, is op slegs een aspek van dienslewering gekonsenteer, naamlik die lewering van gesondheidsdienste. Hierdie terrein is verder vernou tot die Wes-Kaap en meer spesifiek tot die rol van openbare hospitale. Die Wes-Kaap was interessant omdat hoewel die regering op nasionale vlak deur die ANC beheer is, die Wes-Kaap basies deur die NNP in die periode van ondersoek geregeer is. Die provinsie was verplig om nasionale beleidsriglyne te volg, maar op provinsiale vlak het dit 'n sekere speelruimte geniet om eie beleid te formuleer en te implementeer. Die studie bestaan uit twee dele. Die eerste het te doen met beleidsformulering, die tweede met beleidsimplementering. Wat beleidsformulering betref, is 'n studie gemaak van die basisdokumente wat die kernwaardes, nasionale prioriteite en hoof doelstellings van die regering bevat. Dit het ingesluit die Vryheidmanifes, die Konstitusie en die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram. Daar is bevind dat hierdie waardes en prioriteite in die algemeen suksesvol vertaal is in beleidsopsies op beide die nasionale en provinsiale vlak, veral in die dokumente wat gerig was op die transformasie van die nasionale gesondheidsektor. Die tweede deel van die studie het die implementering van die breë beleidsriglyne in die area van openbare gesondheid in geselekteerde publike hospitale in die Wes-Kaap ondersoek. Die hoof-ondersoekmetode was gestruktureerde onderhoude met verteenwoordigende werknemers van alle vlakke. Die bevindinge was gevolglik meer van 'n kwalitatiewe as kwantitatiewe aard. Die fokusareas waarop geskonsentreer is, was personeelbestuur, menslike hulpbronbeplanning, arbeidsverhoudinge en die ontwikkeling van menslike potensiaal. Die hoofbevindinge was dat die formulering van beleid beide van basiese waardes na gesondheidsbeleid en van die nasionale na provinsiale vlak in die algemeen suksesvol was. Aan die ander kant het ernstige gebreke aan die lig gekom sover dit die implementering van beleid op verskillende vlakke betref. Die resultaat was 'n gemengde en dikwels kontrasterende prentjie. Hoewel sommige hospitale goeie vordering gemaak het in sekere opsigte, laat die lewering van gehalte-diens aan alle pasiënte nog veel te wense oor. Die verbintenis to gelykheid in gesondheidsdienste veronderstel 'n verbintenis tot die regstelling van geslags-, klas- en rasse-ongelykhede in die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in die gesondheidsektor. Dienslewering gebaseer op sorg en empatie is van deurslaggewende belang in hierdie opsig. Daar is 'n groot behoefte aan behoorlike beplanning vir die verbetering van bestuur- en ander vaardighede van agtergestelde groepe. Die implementering van behoorlike bestuursopleidingsprogramme is van die uiterste belang, wat kan bydra tot effektiewe en goeie dienslewering. Die huidige oorwegend burokratiese en reëlsgebonde bestuurstyl behoort in 'n deelnemende benadering omgeskakel te word. Die ontwikkeling van bestuurskapasiteit in gebiede soos deelnemende veranderingsbestuur, leierskapsontwikkeling, strategiese beplanning, programbestuur en -evaluering en beleidsformulering is van die grootse belang. Die ondersoek sluit af met 'n reeks konkrete aanbevelings met betrekking tot regstellende aksie, verbetering van bestuurskapasiteit, menslike hulpbronontwikkeling en die opleidingsbehoeftes van die verskillende afdelings.

This thesis analyses the reforms of health and social care in the Czech Republic, focusing on the impacts of the reform measures on providers and consumers of health care. Health reforms are currently very up to date, but have not yet been adequately processed and published. Health care of the modern state which Czech republic undoubtedly is must provide affordable and quality health care to all children and people of the society. There is however a necessary role of the state as the representative of the entire health system and relevant legislation. In this thesis we studied the prepared government reforms. The aim of this work was to understand this difficult area and bring this issue further primarily to medical professionals. The results of the research can serve professionals in health social area and be published in scientific journals. The thesis contains a theoretical and empirical part. In the theoretical part we focused on health care systems after 1989, the need for a new reform, the economic development, the health legislation and we also mentioned problems of the current health care system in the Czech Republic. In more detail, we focused on the amended laws related to the new changes in the healthcare system of the Czech Republic. Regarding the reform measures of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, we focused on the change in the institutional child care and thus a possible replacement of nurseries foster care. For the empirical part research was chosen qualitative method of semi-structured interview with nurses. The research sample consisted of 20 university educated nurses who work mainly on children's wards in hospitals in Czech Budejovice, Tabor, Czech Krumlov and General University Hospital in Prague. In the thesis we stated six goals and six research questions. First, we wanted to determine nurses opinions on the big planned new health and social reform. Furthermore, we were interested in awareness nurses would planned changes in the health and social sphere with other goals we wanted to see what would nurses would like to change in the health system of the Czech Republic, how well informed Theky are about the changes in health care since 1989, what they know about the problems of institutional care and what their opinion on the possible cancelation of nurseries and they replace ment of institutional care by foster care is. From the research it was shown that the specifics of the health reform were seen by the respondents from different point of views. During the qualitative investigation it was found that the knowledge of university educated nurses regarding the planned health reforms was not fully sufficient. With the year of 2014 crucial changes occurred in the Czech health system. In particular, we do not pay medical fees for inpatient stay (1st. January 2014). By the media discussed many medical fees majority of the respondents was aware of but they didnt know the other reforms. In this thesis we focused on the lack of (un) awareness of nurses of planned the health reforms. Our hope is to convince the wider professional public that basic knowledge of politics in the Czech Republic is a very important issue.

It was perceived that an imbalance exists between resource allocations for health care within the Ekurhuleni Health District (EHD). This study consequently used a retrospective, quantitative methodology to investigate health equity in the EHD and to collect information on clinic buildings, staffing and budget allocations. Although clinics were oversupplied in terms of the norms set by the National Department of Health, they were found not to be in keeping with population growth in the Ekurhuleni district. The study highlighted an inequitable spread of nursing staff, which would require that nursing personnel be re-deployed. The per capita spending in the different service delivery regions was also found to be inequitable. It was subsequently recommended that spending on clinics be revised (especially in the populous Southern SDR), that staff be reallocated and that budget allocations be reviewed to achieve equity in Ekurhuleni. / Health Studies / Thesis (M.A. (Public Health))

O presente estudo tem como objetivo a análise das tecnologias presentes no trabalho da Equipe Itinerante da Rede de Saúde Mental do município de Viamão/RS. Para realizar o presente estudo foi utilizado o referencial teórico do processo de trabalho em saúde, articulado ao debate sobre o modo psicossocial. O estudo é de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo estudo de caso. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de julho, agosto e setembro, através da observação participante, com anotações em diários de campo, análise documental e por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada. Os participantes do estudo são três profissionais da Equipe Itinerante de Saúde Mental. Para realizar a análise dos dados foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo, modalidade temática. A análise evidenciou três categorias, a saber: Elementos constituintes do trabalho da equipe itinerante – seu objeto e tecnologias; Organização do trabalho da equipe itinerante; e, Potencialidades e desafios do trabalho da equipe itinerante para a rede de atenção psicossocial. Em relação à primeira categoria, os resultados apontaram para a clareza do objeto de trabalho, sendo este o usuário. O papel da equipe é relativizado como sendo de apoiador das equipes de referência, responsáveis pela inserção dos usuários nos serviços de saúde e pela aproximação e resposta ao judiciário em relação à judicialização da saúde. Em relação às tecnologias de trabalho, são usadas as reuniões de equipe, as visitas domiciliares e outras tecnologias, como as Guias de Encaminhamentos. Na segunda categoria foram identificadas ações de desburocratização das atividades da equipe itinerante, avanços em articulações e intervenções em conjunto com os serviços de referência - com maior abertura dos serviços de saúde mental à equipe itinerante -, e a necessidade de melhores diálogos com o setor judiciário para repensar prazos processuais e sanar dúvidas dos trabalhadores. Na terceira categoria, em relação às potencialidades, os participantes destacam a criação de uma equipe para atuar com o judiciário, a autonomia no processo de trabalho e abertura para trabalho em conjunto com a atenção básica e o CAPS AD. Já em relação aos desafios, são destacadas: a dificuldade de encontrar o usuário em sua casa, a mediação de conflitos familiares e as questões relacionadas ao tráfico, à violência e ao preconceito da sociedade com o usuário. Deste modo, acredito que o estudo possa contribuir no processo de reforma psiquiátrica ao propor novos modos de cuidado no território a partir da criação de equipes itinerantes. / The present study aims the analysis of the technologies present in the work of an Itinerant Team from the Mental Health Network in the city of Viamão-RS. In order to carry out the present study, a theoretical benchmark of the process in health work was used, linked to the debate on psychosocial level. It is a qualitative approach study, similar to a case study. The data was collected in the months of July, August and September, through the participating observation with note taking in field diaries and through semi structured interview. The study participants are three professionals from the Itinerant Team of mental health. To analyze the data we used the content analysis, thematic review. The analysis highlighted three categories, which are: Elements members of the itinerant working team - their purpose and technologies; Organization of the itinerant working team and potentials and challenges of the itinerant working team for the network of psychosocial attention. Concerning the first category, results pointed out for the clearness of the working object, that is, the user. The role of the team is seen as a supporting one for the reference teams, responsible for introducing the users in the health services and approximation and response to the judicial power concerning the judicialization of health. Concerning the working technologies, we used the team meetings, the visits and the new technologies as Referral Guidelines. In the second category, debureaucratization actions of the itinerant team activities were identified as well as advances in connections and interventions with the reference services – with bigger access of mental health services for the itinerant team – and the need of better dialogues with the judicial power to rethink procedural deadlines and solve doubts of the workers. In the third category, concerning the potentials: the participants highlight the creation of a team to work with the judicial power, the autonomy in the working process and the opening of joint work with the basic attention and the CAPS AD. The challenges are highlighted concerning the difficulty to find the user at home, the mediation of family conflicts and the issues involving traffic, violence and prejudice from the society against the user. Thus, I believe this study can contribute in the process of psychiatric reform when it proposes new ways to care for in the territory based on the creation of itinerant teams. / El presente estudio tiene como objetivo el análisis de las tecnologías presentes en el trabajo del Grupo Itinerante de la Red de Salud Mental del municipio de Viamão-RS. Para realizar tal estudio fue utilizado el referencial teórico del proceso de trabajo en salud, articulado al debate sobre el modo psicosocial. El estudio es de abordaje cualitativo, tipo estudio de caso. La recolección de los datos ocurrió en los meses de julio, agosto y septiembre, a través de la observación participante con apuntes en diarios de campo y por medio de una entrevista semiestructurada. Los participantes del estudio fueron los tres profesionales que componen el Grupo Itinerante de la Red de Salud Mental del municipio de Viamão-RS. Para realizar el análisis de los datos fue utilizado el análisis de contenido modalidad temática. El análisis evidenció tres categorías, a saber: Elementos constituyentes del trabajo del grupo itinerante – su objeto y tecnologías; organización del trabajo del grupo itinerante y Potencialidades y desafíos del trabajo del grupo itinerante para la red de atención psicosocial. Sobre la primera categoría, los resultados señalaron la claridad del objeto de trabajo, siendo éste, el usuario. El papel del grupo es relativizado como siendo de apoyador de los grupos de referencia, responsables por la inserción de los usuarios en los servicios de salud y por la aproximación y respuesta al judiciario en relación a la judicialización de la salud. En relación a las tecnologías de trabajo, son usadas las reuniones de grupo, las visitas domiciliares y otras tecnologías, como las Guías de Encaminamientos. En la segunda categoría fueron identificadas acciones de desburocratización de las actividades del grupo itinerante, avances en articulaciones e intervenciones en conjunto con los servicios de referencia – con mayor apertura de los servicios de salud mental al grupo itinerante -, y la necesidad de mejores diálogos con el sector judiciario para repensar plazos procesuales y sanar dudas de los trabajadores. En la tercera categoría, en relación a las potencialidades, los participantes señalan la creación de un grupo para actuar con el judiciario, la autonomía en el proceso de trabajo y apertura para trabajo en conjunto con la atención básica y CAPS AD. Ya cuanto a los desafíos, son señalados: la dificultad de encontrar el usuario en su casa, la mediación de conflictos familiares y las cuestiones relacionadas al tráfico, violencia y prejuicio de la sociedad con el usuario. De este modo, creo que este estudio pueda contribuir en el proceso de reforma psiquiátrica al proponer nuevos modos de cuidado en el territorio a partir de la creación de grupos itinerantes.

The Public health insurance system in the Czech Republic was established more than 20 years ago. During this period, the public health insurance system has gone through many transformations. A lot of reform proposals have been submitted with the aim of keeping the increase of healthcare expenses under control but simultaneously not limiting the quality and the accessibility of healthcare. The introduction of the regulatory fees was a part of the healthcare reformation and its purpose was to reduce the demand for healthcare and thus regulate the consumption of health services. Secondarily, the regulatory fees should bring private funds into healthcare system. In the theoretical part of the research, the author describes healthcare systems of several European countries mainly from the point of view of cost sharing by patients. The funding of healthcare in the Czech Republic is then evaluated in more detail. The research characterises all the types of regulatory fees including all the legal changes they have undergone prior to their implementation. The author summarizes the amounts of funds received from the different types of fees which patients have paid since the introduction of regulatory fees in 2012 on the basis of data received from health insurance companies. In the practical part of the research, the author analyses and statistically processes data which were taken from one specific bureau of employee health insurance company. On the basis of this data, the author maps the development of average visits of healthcare institutions per patient in the chosen fields of ambulant care specializations. The author compares the number of average visits in 2007, which is the year before the introduction of regulatory fees, with the number of average visits after the regulations implementation that means during the 2008-2013 period. The aim was to discover whether the fees had any effect on the amount of healthcare services and whether they led to decrease in the number of patients´ visits (at the doctor). The development of the number of patients´ visits was studied in 22 different fields of ambulatory specialization in total. The collected results have been statistically processed using one sample, one-tailed T test. Furthermore, the influence of fees on the healthcare expenses was surveyed in the respective ambulatory fields. In the similar manner as with the patients´ visits, the author compares the average expenses per one patient before the introduction of regulatory fees in 2007 with the average value after the implementation of regulatory fees to the healthcare system. The research offers a comprehensive overview of these issues and can be used as a basic material for further research about regulatory fees and patient cost sharing in healthcare.

A assistência psiquiátrica a indivíduos com sofrimento psíquico, em seu campo político, passou por um longo processo de discussão e formulação de estratégias a fim de garantir condição de humanidade aos indivíduos assistidos. A Reforma Psiquiátrica brasileira, como ficou conhecida, ocorreu concomitante ao processo de Reforma Sanitária e formulou leis para a garantia da integralidade e do acesso universal à saúde em território nacional sob a responsabilidade das esferas governamentais. No município de Cascavel PR, o processo de formulação das políticas assistenciais para o indivíduo com transtorno mental se inicia na década de 90, porém só é efetivamente estruturado a partir de 2003 com o fechamento do Hospital Psiquiátrico São Marcos, que forçou o município a agilizar o processo de implantação da rede assistencial e de serviços complementares com moldes psicossociais. Com isso o município estrutura a assistência ao portador de transtorno mental através da implantação de ambulatório especializado, serviço de urgência e centros de atenção psicossocial para adultos, crianças e usuários de álcool e outras drogas, todos estruturados com suporte assistencial realizado pela Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS). Em cada UBS foi nomeado um profissional de referência para o acompanhamento desses usuários e de seus familiares com o intuito de fortalecer o vínculo e manter a relação entre os serviços complementares e atenção primária. O presente estudo é centrado na pesquisa bibliográfica e de campo, com caráter qualitativo, cujo ponto de partida é a coleta de dados por meio de aplicação de questionário semi-estruturado com a finalidade de conhecer o processo de formulação das políticas municipais de atenção ao doente mental através do questionamento sobre as práticas assistenciais desenvolvidas pela atenção primária à saúde. A população é composta por 10 (dez) profissionais das UBS, referências em saúde mental, e 10 (dez) familiares de usuários com sofrimento mental, assistidos pela atenção básica, mas inseridos em algum dos serviços ofertados da rede assistencial de saúde mental. A análise dos dados se deu por meio de análise de conteúdo, com estruturação de dois grandes focos de análise para melhor compreensão dos conteúdos (Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin). O resultado apontou dados positivos em relação à política de saúde mental municipal uma vez que, embora com apontamentos divergentes entre profissionais e usuários, percebe-se a intenção em assegurar aos indivíduos em sofrimento psíquico uma gama de procedimentos que são, inclusive, orientados por portarias ministeriais. Em relação à assistência prestada pela atenção básica de saúde, há convergência em relação às ações desenvolvidas pelos profissionais da UBS, embora os profissionais afirmem o desenvolvimento de atividades que não são confirmadas pelos usuários. Em relação às dificuldades encontradas para efetivação do tratamento, tanto profissionais quanto usuários apontam que há muito a avançar no campo da saúde mental para que efetivamente seja prestada assistência de forma equânime e integral. / The psychiatric care to individuals with psychological distress, based on its political area, went through a long process of discussion and formulation of strategies to ensure human condition for assisted individuals. Psychiatric Reform in Brazil, as it was known, happened concomitantly with the Sanitary Reform and stated laws to guarantee the completeness and universal access to health in the country under the responsibility of the civil cabinet. In the city of Cascavel, Paraná State, the process of formulating welfare policies for individuals with mental illness has started in the 90s, but, it is only effectively structured up from 2003, when São Marcos Hospital was closed. This forced the municipality to expedite the implementing process concerning the care network and additional services with psychosocial patterns. Thus, the municipality structures assistance to the ones who were mentally ill through the implementation of an outpatient clinic, emergency department and psychosocial care centers for adults, children and users of alcohol and other drugs, all structured to support care conducted by the Basic Health Unit (BHU). In each BHU, it was designated a professional of reference for the monitoring of users and their families in order to strengthen the bond and keep the relationship among complementary services and primary care. This study is focused on literature and field research, with qualitative approach, whose starting point is the collection of data through the application of semi-structured questionnaire in order to know the process for formulation of municipal policies to mental patient care through the questioning of care practices developed by primary health care. The studied group was of ten (10) professionals from BHU, with good qualifications in mental health and 10 (ten) people from the families of users with mental illness, helped by basic assistance, but who made part of any of the services offered from the health care system in mental health. Data analysis was based on the content analysis, with the structure of two points of interest regarding the analysis for better understanding contents (Content Analysis of Bardin). The results showed positive data in relation to mental health policy in common council since, although there were some different notes among professionals and users, it can be observed the intention to ensure that individuals in psychic suffering have a range of procedures that are inclusive, guided by decrees ministry. Regarding the assistance provided by primary health care, there is convergence concerning the actions that were carried out by professionals from BHU, although they asserted the development of some activities that are not shared among users. Regarding the difficulties in effective treatment, both professional and users pointed out that there is much to advance in mental health area, so that effective assistance gets provided in an equal and integral way.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The historical of the mental health has been marked by the discrimination, exclusion and removal of the persons with mental upset of the society. In this sense, one has like objective, to analyses the understanding of active nurses in mental health about the compulsory admissions and involuntary proposals for the Law of the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform. It is the question of an exploratory-descriptive inquiry with qualitative approach carried out in unities of psychiatric admission in general hospitals and services substitutive in the area of mental health of the Only System of Health in the local authority of Saint Maria. The data collection took place of March to May of 2014, through interview semi-structured with open question, developed in individual and carved form, in a room reserved in the above-mentioned services with eight active nurses in mental health. For so much, the next question happened: which his understanding of compulsory and involuntary admission? The data were subjected to the Analysis of Content and 7.0 (Qualitative Research and Solutions) organized with help of the Software Atlas You, it was inspired in the theoretical referential system of Paulo Amarante. They were respected all the aspects ethical of the inquiries with human beings ruled in the Resolution N. 466 of 2012 of the National Council of Health. Of the analysis of the finds from the reading of the content of the interviews, two categories surfaced: compulsory and involuntary admissions: understanding of the active nurses in mental health; and, compulsory and involuntary admission in the professional daily life of the active nurse in mental health. The results showed up that the nurses understand the compulsory and involuntary admissions as something that must be seen besides the disease, since social, economic, familiar factors when they are in imbalance can bring in an admission. They understand that the Law of the Psychiatric Reform brought changes in the presence in mental health, however it is still not totally in accordance with the ideals of the Law, since the changes are situated more specifically in the services without reaching the community, being the fragmentation of the Net of Attention Psychosocial one of the challenges so that the ideal is reached. Another challenge pointed by the nurses there are the readmissions for the precarious adherence of the users to the services substitutive. Besides, the nurses try to establish a communication with the judicial thing in an attempt of reducing the compulsory admissions. The nurses can differentiate the different types of admission, being that the compulsory and involuntary admissions from the understanding of the nurses do not appear effective, but in crisis situations there are still the most used resource. Between the feelings that these two types of admission wake in the nurses they are the satisfaction feeling when they manage to avoid the admissions and it of frustration when they do not manage. It is ended that so that there is a desinstitucionalização, besides the constitution of a Net of Attention continuous and resolute Psychosocial it is necessary to surpass the readmissions that produce the so-called phenomenon revolving-door. / O histórico da saúde mental tem sido marcado pela discriminação, exclusão e afastamento das pessoas com transtorno mental da sociedade. Neste sentido, tem-se como objetivo, analisar a compreensão de enfermeiros atuantes em saúde mental acerca das internações compulsórias e involuntárias propostas pela Lei da Reforma Psiquiátrica brasileira. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratório-descritiva com abordagem qualitativa, realizada em unidades de internação psiquiátrica em hospitais gerais e serviços substitutivos na área de saúde mental do Sistema Único de Saúde no município de Santa Maria. A coleta de dados ocorreu de março a maio de 2014, por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada com pergunta aberta, desenvolvida de forma individual e gravada, em uma sala reservada nos referidos serviços com oito enfermeiros atuantes em saúde mental. Para tanto, realizou-se a seguinte questão: qual seu entendimento de internação compulsória e involuntária? Os dados foram submetidos à Análise de Conteúdo e organizados com auxílio do Software Atlas Ti 7.0 (Qualitative Research and Solutions), inspirou-se no referencial teórico de Paulo Amarante.. Foram respeitados todos os aspectos éticos das pesquisas com seres humanos pautados na Resolução Nº 466 de 2012 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Da análise dos achados a partir da leitura do conteúdo das entrevistas, emergiram duas categorias: internações compulsórias e involuntárias: compreensão dos enfermeiros atuantes em saúde mental; e, internação compulsória e involuntária no cotidiano profissional do enfermeiro atuante em saúde mental. Os resultados evidenciaram que os enfermeiros compreendem as internações compulsórias e involuntárias como algo que deve ser visto além da doença, pois fatores sociais, econômicos, familiares quando se encontram em desequilíbrio podem acarretar em uma internação. Compreendem que a Lei da Reforma Psiquiátrica trouxe mudanças na assistência em saúde mental, porém ainda não está totalmente de acordo com os ideais da Lei, pois as mudanças se situam mais especificamente nos serviços não chegando à comunidade, sendo a fragmentação da Rede de Atenção Psicossocial um dos desafios para que se alcance o ideal. Outro desafio apontado pelos enfermeiros são as reinternações pela precária aderência dos usuários aos serviços substitutivos. Além disso, os enfermeiros procuram estabelecer uma comunicação com o judiciário em uma tentativa de reduzir as internações compulsórias. Os enfermeiros sabem diferenciar os diferentes tipos de internação, sendo que as internações compulsórias e involuntárias a partir da compreensão dos enfermeiros não se mostram efetivas, mas em situações de crise ainda são o recurso mais utilizado. Entre os sentimentos que esses dois tipos de internação despertam nos enfermeiros estão o sentimento de satisfação quando conseguem evitar as internações e o de frustação quando não conseguem. Conclui-se que para que haja uma desinstitucionalização, além da constituição de uma Rede de Atenção Psicossocial contínua e resolutiva é necessário sobrepujar as reinternações que geram o fenômeno denominado revolving-door ou porta-giratória.