Unveiling the meaning attributed to nursing care at the perspective of person with cancer

Objective: to verify the meaning attributed to nursing care from the perspective of the person with cancer. Method: descriptive, exploratory research, with a qualitative approach, using an interview script as an instrument and the semi-structured interview as a collection technique. Participated in the research 13 patients, hospitalized in the surgical clinic of the inpatient units of the oncology ward of a public hospital, Center of High Complexity in Oncology, located in the city of Belém, State of Pará, Brazil. Research conducted in August 2019, and for the construction of the data, the thematic content analysis technique proposed by Bardin was used. Results: the analysis of the speeches showed that patients recognize nursing professionals as the main reference for care, comfort and safety, and it is presented as a source of information, both for the health team and for patients and family members. Conclusion: when caring, the meaning of therapeutic intervention and qualitative professional relationship between patient and family are attributed. Knowing the meanings that patients attribute to the act of health professionals, contribute greatly to thinking about the decision making of more targeted and individualized therapeutic plans.