THE CRITICAL INCIDENTS TECHNIQUE: A CLASSIC AND EFFECTIVE TOOL IN NURSING

Abstract

This paper present an up-to-date vision of the critical incidents technique, highlighting that it is a valuable technique for qualitative investigation, fexible, of relative easy application and broadly used in nursing contexts. This technique also allows understanding the interaction between the actions of people in complex area of health context. In this review, its origin and main characteristics are described. Then a step-by-step explanation is given regarding the use of the technique, and also its advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. Finally, a discussion is presented of how it can contribute to research activities and to the assessment of intervention actions in health organizations.