Abstract
Objective:
To identify the actions of nurses in defending the rights of hospitalized children.
Methods:
Qualitative research conducted in two hospitals in southern Brazil, with twelve nurses, using semi-structured interviews in June 2014.
Results:
Nurses advocate for the rights of hospitalized children by performing actions intended to ensure the right to life, dignity and health.
Conclusions:
The actions of nurses defending the rights of hospitalized children were mainly performed by providing guidance that enabled the participation of children in their own care and promoting the autonomy of parents or legal guardians to make decisions concerning the care provided to their children.
Implications for practice:
Acknowledging health advocacy actions represents advancement in the practice of nursing, as it provides nurses opportunities to cope with future experiences in the pediatric context.
Keywords:
Nursing; Health Advocacy; Child Advocacy; Hospitalization
