This exploratory-descriptive, qualitative study was performed with the objective to analyze the social representation of the process of choosing leaders among nursing workers of a university hospital. The information was obtained through free word association and open interviews. For the purposes of this study, thematic content analysis was performed, guided by the Social Representations Theory. Through this focus the following category emerged: division of the nursing team - the input and output of the process of choosing leaders. The category consists of a crystallization of the social representation of the subject, anchored in elements related to leadership, impartiality, change, knowledge, trust and humanization. The idea of leadership is highlighted as inducing a movement in the division of the team as it is associated with the process of choosing leaders for an environment of communication, suitable for integrating the team and recognizing potential leaders.
Leadership; Health management; Nursing team; Hospital administration; Nursing, supervisory