CARE MANAGEMENT: NURSING KNOWLEDGE AND ASSESSMENT AT A METROPOLITAN REGION HOSPITAL, CHILE

Abstract

The care management unit (CMU) in Chile is framed within the public health reform, getting a unique importance for the profession in designing, planning, development and evaluation care within the health institutions. Objective: To describe the knowledge and the assessment that nurses put on the CMU. Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, with universe of 52 that answered a structured questionnaire, whose variables responded to the most significant concepts of the current regulation of CMU. Results: The unit was positively considered, specifically the relationship between this unit and the clinical activity as need, the recognition of the institutional CMU and training in care management as a fundamental part in professional skills were recognized. Moreover, it was observed that individuals with less work experience and positions of clinical care, are less empowered subjects with conceptions of regulation of CMU; finally the CMU in Chile are considered in greater proportion as a field of management development, however emerged opinions on the extension of the vision of these units, considering them more globally, giving a sense and self-worth in nursing care. Conclusion: The study gets to describe a positive assessment of the CMU in health nurses in a Chilean institution, however new research lines are opened and, it is necessary to deepen through joint research methodologies.