Integrality is one of the pillars of the Brazilian National Health Care System (Sistema Único de Saúde) and the search for its effectuation must occur within the different levels and services of health care, especially concerning the capacity for articulation among them. This study aims to identify nursing perceptions about the limits and possibilities of their work towards comprehensive, hospital, and basic care in the hospital release process involving a child. This descriptive, qualitative research counted on the participation of 13 nurses, seven from the hospital and six from primary care in a municipality in southern Brazil. The absence of communication between the two spheres emerged as the principle limit, while the high coverage of the Family Health Strategy teams emerged as the principle potential. Under the perspective of integrality, we conclude there is a need for rethinking among professionals involved in this practice in order to modify the current scenario.
Comprehensive health care; Nursing care; Patient discharge