ABSTRACT Emphasis on humanistic values and personal experience in nursing has led to the popularisation of holistic nursing approach to nursing care. Although holistic nursing care as a construct is widely discussed in nursing literature. Contextual clinical application has been difficult, in the absence of guiding conceptual framework and guidelines that directs nursing practice. In this study, the purpose was to examine the meaning of holistic nursing care and develop a framework for holistic nursing care, which can be utilised in nurse education settings and in clinical nursing practice in the context of paediatric nursing in academic hospitals. To achieve this aim, qualitative methodological perspectives were employed based on careful selection of the population, sampling, collection and analysis of data and trustworthiness. To enable the accomplishment of the purpose, the study objectives were formulated into two phases. Phase one objective enabled the identification of the characteristics of the concept holistic nursing care through concept analysis and by obtaining the emic viewpoints of the paediatric nurses working in academic hospitals. A philosophical inquiry was employed using Rodgers’ evolutionary method of concept analysis. To elucidate the concept holistic nursing care a qualitative, interpretive, explorative and contextual research design was employed. Holistic nursing care was interpreted as whole care fostering person-centred and family-centred care. The results confirm the current discourse in nursing literature with respect to “person-centred”, “family-centred care” as opposed to “patient-centred care”. The emphasis is on recognition of the need to transform current linguistic ontology from “patient care” towards the provision of “whole-person” care. Participants’ interpreted v holistic nursing care as whole care directed towards a unique and complex human being. The dynamic, which is the driving force for the achievement of whole care, is established through enabling goal-directed nurse-family relationships. One of the key finding is the prominence of spirituality and the inclusion of spirituality in different aspects of child nursing. The dependency of individual nurses to spiritual sources for personal strength and support was recognised and acknowledged. Knowledge of disease, person and “know how” are necessary for the acomplishment of ethically, safe person-centred whole care. Attributes of holistic nursing care yielded two dimensions; whole person and mind-body-spirit dimension. The decriptors of whole person include physical, mental, emotional, spirit and spitual being. Spirituality is the predominant antecedent. Holistic nursing care is initiated by the recognition of the individual, in need of health care, as a spiritual being with mind-body-spirit dimension. Spirituaity is an ever-present force pervading all human experience. Complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) was identified as a surrogate term. The connection of CAM with holistic nursing care is the focus of therapetic interventions that are directed to the mind-body-spirit domain. The emphasis is on health rather than curing. Preventative therapeutic interventions are desingned to meet the needs of the whole-person. Caution is advocated in the use of CAM therapies in child nursing, as CAM efficacy has not been sufficiently investigated in child health care. The conceptual framework is presented as unique contribution to nursing. The framework may be introduced at undergraduate teaching of child and family nursing care and in specialists’ paediatric nurse education. Recognition of the human being as a whole person with mind-body-spirit dimension is not restricted to a child or family care. Therefore, the vi framework is presented as a fundamental structure that can be used generally to all intervention activities in relation to human–human interactions. Its use may be broadened to any therapeutic environments. The framework may be tested in adult nursing in variety of settings in health care. There is a potential to expand and transfer certain elements of the framework to other discipline beyond nursing: in doctor-patient relationships, manager-employee relationships, and person-to-person interactions. Perhaps the South African Nursing Council, as the regulating body responsible for developing the educational framework of nursing education in this country may adopt this framework in line with their philosophy of nursing to articulate with their intended goal of providing holistic nursing care for the people of this nation. Adoption of the framework may require a shift from the current “patient-centred care” towards “person-centred care”.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

The establishment of trust in the nurse-parent relationship is espoused to be fundamental in achieving partnership-in-care within paediatric nursing. Paediatric nursing has progressed since the 1960's and in the 1990's, the major breakthrough was the emergence of the partnership model. Hence, it would be ideal to investigate the elements facilitating the foundation of trust in the formation of a nurse-parent relationship. The purpose of this study is to identify the concept of formation of trust in the relationship between parents whose children suffer from chronic asthma and the paediatric nurses responsible for their care in a paediatric medical setting. The study also determined and explored the characteristics of a trustworthy nurse, and identified those factors which facilitated or impeded the development of trust between the paediatric nurse and the parent within the culture of the paediatric medical setting. Parents of hospitalised children were sought for data collection. Data was collected using field observations and semi-structured interviews. Participant observation and all ethnographic field notes were used to describe culture in relation to the concept of trust in the nurse-parent relationship. The findings indicated that elements vital to the development of trust between parents and paediatric nurses were pre-existing trust, knowledge of asthma, communication, building a relationship and confidentiality. Based on these findings, a model of trust and partnership was developed. The implications of the findings have been significantly related to keeping parents informed of their child's condition, the continuity in nursing care and paediatric nurses to introduce themselves at the beginning of each change of shift.

A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken to explore the experience of eight registered nurses and two hospital play specialists who care for children hospitalised with burn injuries. The research participants were recruited from a paediatric ward that offers centralised specialty care to children with burns. Collected through face-to-face interviews, the participants' stories were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim using a process for analysis informed by van Manen, (1997b).Emerging out of the data was the over-arching theme of 'passionate dedication' that shows the nurses and hospital play specialists genuine compassion and commitment to meet the needs of the children with burns. The findings of the study reveal that the participant's dedication is shaped and determined by a dynamic process that involves having professional integrity and in-depth knowledge of caring for children and burn management. The nurses and the hospital play specialists have a common understanding of what their role entails and the skills required to provide quality care and support to the children and the children's family. On a personal and professional level the participants encounter several challenges in this care context that are physically and emotionally overwhelming. Despite becoming overwhelmed the participants are revealed as being resourceful and resilient in their aptitude to find ways that enable them to cope and get through.This study supports international literature that suggests that caring for children with burns is equally rewarding, as much as it is physically and emotionally demanding. The implication in this study for the organisation is to seriously consider issues regarding productivity and efficiency of the workforce with acknowledgement that nurses and hospital play specialists cannot do this emotional work without effective systems of support in place. With the help of team leaders, managers and educators, the organisation will need to consider ways to monitor the job satisfaction of their staff. Furthermore, reinforce existing comprehensive measures, such as mentorship and clinical supervision programmes to encourage the retention and well-being of all staff, at all stages of their career on the children's burn ward.

This study investigated the experiences of paediatric care nurses in a public, resource-poor hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal to. A mixed methods design was used . The quantitative aspect focused on how contextual factors influenced nurses’ perceptions of the hospital ward where they worked. The Moos Ward Atmosphere Scale was used to assess ward environment. The Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale was used to explore the role of various aspects of vicarious job burnout. The study took place in four phases, baseline, pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention. Quantitative analysis was done to explore possible relationships in burnout and ward atmosphere. A repeated (paired) measures t-test design was used to compare the pre- and post-intervention data, to test if the intervention process had any effect on the ward atmosphere and nurse burnout. As this was a small data set, quantitative analysis was done as an exploration for future research. The qualitative aspect explored how the intervention was utilized; how nurses talked about their issues in the support group and what issues they reported. Thematic analysis was used as the focus of this research was describe the experiences of nursing in a resource-poor setting, with the expectation that this could raise complex and new challenges faced in the context of HIV and AIDS. Although nurses in this study reported many challenges resulting from health sector problems, such as the shortage of staff and resources, they did not achieve high scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The possible reasons for this are explored. The study also revealed that newly employed nurses expressed having more miscommunication problems with caregivers and other staff members. Other themes identified included, lack of HIV and AIDS disclosure, stressors related to the current South African context and trauma as a result of the death of patients and colleagues. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken to explore the experience of eight registered nurses and two hospital play specialists who care for children hospitalised with burn injuries. The research participants were recruited from a paediatric ward that offers centralised specialty care to children with burns. Collected through face-to-face interviews, the participants' stories were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim using a process for analysis informed by van Manen, (1997b).Emerging out of the data was the over-arching theme of 'passionate dedication' that shows the nurses and hospital play specialists genuine compassion and commitment to meet the needs of the children with burns. The findings of the study reveal that the participant's dedication is shaped and determined by a dynamic process that involves having professional integrity and in-depth knowledge of caring for children and burn management. The nurses and the hospital play specialists have a common understanding of what their role entails and the skills required to provide quality care and support to the children and the children's family. On a personal and professional level the participants encounter several challenges in this care context that are physically and emotionally overwhelming. Despite becoming overwhelmed the participants are revealed as being resourceful and resilient in their aptitude to find ways that enable them to cope and get through.This study supports international literature that suggests that caring for children with burns is equally rewarding, as much as it is physically and emotionally demanding. The implication in this study for the organisation is to seriously consider issues regarding productivity and efficiency of the workforce with acknowledgement that nurses and hospital play specialists cannot do this emotional work without effective systems of support in place. With the help of team leaders, managers and educators, the organisation will need to consider ways to monitor the job satisfaction of their staff. Furthermore, reinforce existing comprehensive measures, such as mentorship and clinical supervision programmes to encourage the retention and well-being of all staff, at all stages of their career on the children's burn ward.

Family centred care is a concept espoused to be fundamental to achieving excellence in paediatric nursing. Although it is recognised that family centred care includes the child's rights to self determination the focus of this study is parental participation in the decision making and care of their hospitalised child at a partnership level. This is based on negotiation and requires frequent, effective communication between parents and nurses and for each to respect the other's knowledge and appreciate the other has something to offer in the relationship which will benefit the child. The purpose of this study was to identify whether family centred care was occurring in paediatric settings in rural Western Australia and explored parents' and nurses' perceptions of the concept. A questionnaire was designed based on the literature and common themes identified from focus groups. Convenience sampling was used and 15 rural hospitals facilitated participation of 243 parents who had a child under ten years of age hospitalised and 108 nurses who cared for children. Exploratory factor analysis identified four subscales from the parents' questionnaire and three subscales from the nurses' questionnaire which measured separate concepts of family centred care. Descriptive statistics were generated for each subscale, and independent t-tests, ANOVA and correlations were examined between independent variables and subscales of family centred care. There was a statistically significant difference in scores for parents' perceptions of `child friendly environment' between regional and district hospitals. Those parents who did not have social support scored a statistically significantly lower mean score for `respect as parent'. Nurses in district hospitals generated statistically significantly higher mean scores for `family focussed hospital' than those who worked in regional hospitals. / Parents and nurses both perceived that parents wanted to continue parenting their hospitalised child, however parents wanted to provide more nursing care than was perceived by nurses. Nurses' perceptions of delivering family centred care were greater than the perceptions of parents receiving it, however they were consistent in items that were scored low. Nurses did ask parents about the amount of participation they wanted in their child's care on admission however, it was not done on a regular basis. Parents perceived that nurses were unaware of other things that parents needed to attend to while their child was hospitalised and therefore did not enable parents to attend to these needs. More frequent negotiation of roles between parents and nurses by communicating each shift, or at least daily, could narrow the gap between differing perceptions in care provision and also enable parents to attend to their other roles thereby reducing their levels of physical and emotional stress.

A multidimensionalidade e a consistência empírica da violência convidam aos questionamentos, debates e reflexões acerca desse fenômeno. A violência intrafamiliar contra a criança consiste em formas agressivas de membros da família se relacionarem adotando essa prática como solução de conflitos e estratégia para a correção e educação das crianças. Objeto de estudo: a violência intrafamiliar à criança na perspectiva de familiares. Objetivos: Identificar os atos considerados violentos contra a criança na perspectiva de familiares; descrever as implicações desses atos violentos na vida da criança sob a ótica de familiares; conhecer quais as atitudes que os familiares consideram importantes para a prevenção da violência contra a criança e discutir a violência intrafamiliar à criança na perspectiva de familiares a luz da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz. Descrição metodológica: Trata-se de estudo de natureza qualitativo desenvolvido em um ambulatório de pediatria de um hospital universitário do município do Rio de Janeiro, com a participação de 12 familiares. Para a interpretação do material empírico foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo de Bardin na modalidade temática. O referencial teórico da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz sustentou a discussão dos resultados. Resultados: Emergiram 6 (seis) categorias analíticas, a saber: Violência nas relações familiares; Palavras que ferem; Formas silenciosas de descuido e descaso para com a vida do outro; Violência gera violência; Implicações da violência intrafamiliar na vida da criança; Falar com a criança para evitar a violência. Os familiares a partir de uma relação anônima entendem a violência intrafamiliar contra a criança na perspectiva de um constructo teórico, na qual se situam como espectadores e não como perpetradores dos atos violentos. Para eles, os castigos físicos, a violência psicológica, a negligência e o abandono praticados pelas pessoas são considerados violência intrafamiliar contra a criança. Práticas como palmadinhas e tapinhas foram descritas como forma de correção e educação da criança. No se refere às implicações dos atos violentos na vida da criança apontaram aquelas que podem levar marcas profundas na memória da criança vitimizada, bem como em sua vida sócio-afetiva. O estudo possibilitou a aproximação ao conhecimento de uma realidade que afeta inúmeras crianças, onde os familiares sinalizaram que a melhor maneira de se prevenir a violência intrafamiliar é por meio do estabelecimento de uma conversa esclarecedora com a criança, abordando os assuntos pertinentes para cada ocasião com que se deparam. A inserção dessa temática desde os cursos de graduação para profissionais que lidam com a criança e sua família poderá ampliar os estudos neste campo e subsidiar a formação desses profissionais para lidar de forma adequada com o fenômeno da violência intrafamiliar. / The multidimensionality and empirical consistency of violence are an invite to questions, discussions and reflections on this phenomenon. The intra-family violence against children consists in aggressive forms of relation between family members adopting this practice as conflict resolution and strategy for children correction and education. Object of study: the intra-family violence from relatives perspective. Objectives: Identify considered violent acts against children from relatives perspective , describe the implications of these violent acts in the child's life from relatives perspective ; know what attitudes that relatives consider important for violence against children prevention and discuss intra-family violence from relatives perspective in the light of Alfred Schutzs sociological phenomenology. Methodological description This is a qualitative study conducted in an outpatient pediatric clinic of a university hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro with the participation of 12 relatives. For the empirical material interpretation was used the content analysis of Bardin in thematic modality. The results have had the theoretical framework of sociological phenomenology of Alfred Schutz held to discuss. Results: emerged six (6) analytical categories entitled: Violence in family relationships , Words that hurt ; Silent forms of careless and disregard for the life of another ; Violence genarates violence ; Implications of intra-family violence on child's life; Talk the child to avoid violence . The relatives from an anonymous relation understand the intra-family violence against children in the perspective of a theoretical construct, in which lie as spectators and not as perpetrators of violent acts. For them physical punishment, psychological violence, neglect and abandonment are considered intra-family violence against children . Practices such as "little slaps" and "little spanks" have been described as a form of correction and education the child . In relation to the violent acts implications in child's life the relatives understand that can take a deep mark in the memory of victimized children as well as their socio- affective life The study enabled the approach to the knowledge of a reality that affects many children, where the relatives have signaled that the best way to prevent intra-family violence is through the establishment of an enlightening conversation with the child addressing relevant issues to specific occasion faced. The inclusion of this theme in graduate courses for professionals who deal with children and their families can expand the studies in this field and to subsidize their training to deal adequately with the phenomenon of intra-family violence.

A multidimensionalidade e a consistência empírica da violência convidam aos questionamentos, debates e reflexões acerca desse fenômeno. A violência intrafamiliar contra a criança consiste em formas agressivas de membros da família se relacionarem adotando essa prática como solução de conflitos e estratégia para a correção e educação das crianças. Objeto de estudo: a violência intrafamiliar à criança na perspectiva de familiares. Objetivos: Identificar os atos considerados violentos contra a criança na perspectiva de familiares; descrever as implicações desses atos violentos na vida da criança sob a ótica de familiares; conhecer quais as atitudes que os familiares consideram importantes para a prevenção da violência contra a criança e discutir a violência intrafamiliar à criança na perspectiva de familiares a luz da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz. Descrição metodológica: Trata-se de estudo de natureza qualitativo desenvolvido em um ambulatório de pediatria de um hospital universitário do município do Rio de Janeiro, com a participação de 12 familiares. Para a interpretação do material empírico foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo de Bardin na modalidade temática. O referencial teórico da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz sustentou a discussão dos resultados. Resultados: Emergiram 6 (seis) categorias analíticas, a saber: Violência nas relações familiares; Palavras que ferem; Formas silenciosas de descuido e descaso para com a vida do outro; Violência gera violência; Implicações da violência intrafamiliar na vida da criança; Falar com a criança para evitar a violência. Os familiares a partir de uma relação anônima entendem a violência intrafamiliar contra a criança na perspectiva de um constructo teórico, na qual se situam como espectadores e não como perpetradores dos atos violentos. Para eles, os castigos físicos, a violência psicológica, a negligência e o abandono praticados pelas pessoas são considerados violência intrafamiliar contra a criança. Práticas como palmadinhas e tapinhas foram descritas como forma de correção e educação da criança. No se refere às implicações dos atos violentos na vida da criança apontaram aquelas que podem levar marcas profundas na memória da criança vitimizada, bem como em sua vida sócio-afetiva. O estudo possibilitou a aproximação ao conhecimento de uma realidade que afeta inúmeras crianças, onde os familiares sinalizaram que a melhor maneira de se prevenir a violência intrafamiliar é por meio do estabelecimento de uma conversa esclarecedora com a criança, abordando os assuntos pertinentes para cada ocasião com que se deparam. A inserção dessa temática desde os cursos de graduação para profissionais que lidam com a criança e sua família poderá ampliar os estudos neste campo e subsidiar a formação desses profissionais para lidar de forma adequada com o fenômeno da violência intrafamiliar. / The multidimensionality and empirical consistency of violence are an invite to questions, discussions and reflections on this phenomenon. The intra-family violence against children consists in aggressive forms of relation between family members adopting this practice as conflict resolution and strategy for children correction and education. Object of study: the intra-family violence from relatives perspective. Objectives: Identify considered violent acts against children from relatives perspective , describe the implications of these violent acts in the child's life from relatives perspective ; know what attitudes that relatives consider important for violence against children prevention and discuss intra-family violence from relatives perspective in the light of Alfred Schutzs sociological phenomenology. Methodological description This is a qualitative study conducted in an outpatient pediatric clinic of a university hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro with the participation of 12 relatives. For the empirical material interpretation was used the content analysis of Bardin in thematic modality. The results have had the theoretical framework of sociological phenomenology of Alfred Schutz held to discuss. Results: emerged six (6) analytical categories entitled: Violence in family relationships , Words that hurt ; Silent forms of careless and disregard for the life of another ; Violence genarates violence ; Implications of intra-family violence on child's life; Talk the child to avoid violence . The relatives from an anonymous relation understand the intra-family violence against children in the perspective of a theoretical construct, in which lie as spectators and not as perpetrators of violent acts. For them physical punishment, psychological violence, neglect and abandonment are considered intra-family violence against children . Practices such as "little slaps" and "little spanks" have been described as a form of correction and education the child . In relation to the violent acts implications in child's life the relatives understand that can take a deep mark in the memory of victimized children as well as their socio- affective life The study enabled the approach to the knowledge of a reality that affects many children, where the relatives have signaled that the best way to prevent intra-family violence is through the establishment of an enlightening conversation with the child addressing relevant issues to specific occasion faced. The inclusion of this theme in graduate courses for professionals who deal with children and their families can expand the studies in this field and to subsidize their training to deal adequately with the phenomenon of intra-family violence.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Estudo exploratÃrio com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em uma maternidade pÃblica de Fortaleza-CE, que objetivou descrever um mÃtodo de avaliaÃÃo visual aplicado ao recÃm-nascido. Para tanto, utilizou-se um formulÃrio composto por trÃs partes - 1) histÃria materna e neonatal 2) exame ocular e 3) condutas de enfermagem - o qual foi aplicado ao recÃm-nascido cuja idade gestacional ao nascimento era inferior a 37 semanas (RNPT) com o consentimento pÃs-esclarecido da mÃe no perÃodo de marÃo a maio de 2004. Os dados foram processados com o auxÃlio do software SPSS versÃo 11.0 e apresentados em forma de tabelas. Para anÃlise das tabelas 2x2 foram utilizados os testes de Fisher e para as tabelas rxc os testes de Fisher-Freeman-Halton, adotando-se o nÃvel de significÃncia de 5%. O mÃtodo foi aplicado a 114 recÃm-nascidos prematuros. Dentre os fatores da histÃria materna destacaram-se as mÃdias das idades, 23 anos e de consultas de prÃ-natal igual a 3,8. SobressaÃram-se na histÃria familiar/oftalmolÃgica casos de erros de refraÃÃo (17%) seguidos por casos de diabetes (14%). Em menor freqÃÃncia, catarata (4%) e glaucoma (1%). Na histÃria pessoal sobressaiu-se a hipertensÃo arterial (12%), seguida por distÃrbios visuais (8%). Em relaÃÃo à histÃria neonatal, verificou-se que 71% dos RNPT nasceram por cesariana, 52% eram do sexo feminino e 68% apresentaram apgar inferior a sete no primeiro minuto. Quanto à classificaÃÃo da prematuridade 78% eram RNPT moderados. Constatou-se que 112 RNPT utilizaram oxigenoterapia, 71% destes de 1 a 10 dias e 68 RNPT fototerapia, 53% destes de 1 a 5 dias. A profilaxia contra a oftalmia neonatal foi realizada em 27% dos RNPT. Referindo-se ao exame ocular externo, 27% dos RNPT apresentaram alteraÃÃo na pÃlpebra, 16% na conjuntiva, 14% na esclera, 9% no ducto lacrimal, 6% na cÃrnea e 5% na pupila. Nenhum RNPT apresentou alteraÃÃo nas estruturas da sobrancelha e Ãris. Houve associaÃÃo significativa entre alteraÃÃo de esclera e uso de soluÃÃo e/ou medicamento via ocular (p= 0,055). Treze RNPT (11%) apresentaram alteraÃÃo de movimentos extra-oculares (estrabismo fisiolÃgico) e treze (11%) o reflexo vermelho alterado. Houve associaÃÃo estatisticamente significativa entre reflexo vermelho e apgar no primeiro minuto de vida (p= 0,041) e o tempo de oxigenoterapia (p= 0,028). As condutas de enfermagem, a partir dos achados da avaliaÃÃo visual, foram dirigidas ao prontuÃrio, à equipe de enfermagem, aos cuidados com a visÃo do recÃm-nascido ao utilizar terapÃuticas especÃficas, aos seus pais e a outros profissionais (encaminhamento). Os resultados indicaram que o mÃtodo utilizado foi eficiente pelo fato de ressaltar e identificar fatores que podem colaborar para alteraÃÃes visuais precoces, assim como os possÃveis achados do exame ocular do recÃm-nascido. TambÃm almejou como tecnologia contribuir para o âsaberâ e o âcomo fazerâ do enfermeiro no cuidado dirigido à saÃde ocular do recÃm-nascido. A operacionalizaÃÃo do mÃtodo de avaliaÃÃo visual mostrou-se viÃvel e necessÃria no perÃodo de internaÃÃo neonatal, como um dos cuidados do enfermeiro visando a contribuir para a minimizaÃÃo ou mesmo diminuiÃÃo dos agravos à saÃde ocular da crianÃa. / This is a quantitative study, which took place in a public maternity of Fortaleza - CE during the months of March and May of 2004. The aim was to describe the implementation of a visual evaluation during the intern of 114 premature newborns (PN) whose gestation age until birth was under 37 weeks. The babiesâ mothers gave their permission to be subject of the study. The evaluation questionnaire consisted of three categories: 1) maternal and newborn history, 2) ocular exam and 3) nursing care. The data was analysed with the help of SPSS software 11.0 version and presented through table charts. To analyse the 2x2 tables it was used Fisherâs tests and for the rxc tables, Fisher-Freeman-Haltonâs tests, adopting a significance level of 5%. Under the category maternal history, the data showed that the ageâs ratio of the mothers was 23 and 3.8 was the average number of pre - natal consultation. Under family history/ophthalmologic, it stood out deflection errors (17%) followed by diabetes (14%) and in a lower frequency, cataract (4%) and glaucoma (1%). Under personal history it stood out high blood pressure (12%) followed by visual disorder (8%). Under newborn history it was found that 71% of PN were born thought caesarean section, also 52% are female and 68% had an apgar lower than seven during the first minute of their lives. 78% were average PN according to the premature classification. It was found that 112 PN used oxigenotherapy in which 71% of them were between the ages of 1 and 10 days. Also 68 PN were under phototherapy in which 53% were between 1 and 5 days old. The prophylaxis against newborn ophthalmologic disease was done in 27% of the premature newborns. As for the external ocular exam, 27% of those babies showed alteration in the eyelid, 16% in the conjunctiva, 14% in the sclera, 9% in the lachrymal duct, 6% in the cornea and 5% in the pupil (opening of the iris). None of the premature newborns showed any alterations on the eyebrow or iris. There was a meaning variation between the sclera and the ophthalmologic medication used (p=0,055). Thirteen premature newborns (11%) showed variation of the extra-ocular movements (physiologic strabismus) and thirteen (11%) had their red reflex altered. It was found a relevant relation among the red reflex, the apgar in the first minute of the newbornsâ lives (p=0,041) and the time of oxigenotherapy treatment (p=0,028). The nursing care, based on visual assessment, was noted on the register book, informed to the nursing team, conducted as an specific treatment for the newbornsâ vision, transmitted to their parents and other professionals (if one was to be needed). The results showed that the method used was efficient because it emphasizes and identifies factors that may help cooperate treatments against premature visual disorders. Indeed a technology resource contributes to the knowledge and nursing practice for the newbornsâ visual health. The evaluation process came to be useful and necessary during a newborn intern period as one of the nursing treatments to reduce childrenâs ocular disorders.