OBJECTIVE: To describe the social representations of nurses about tuberculosis patients. METHODS: A qualitative research was undertaken, based on Social Representations Theory. To produce the data, the individual interview technique was applied, involving 52 nurses, using a script with closed questions about the personal and professional profile and another script with 27 open questions that explored knowledge and action in their daily work with the patients. For analysis, thematic content analysis was applied. RESULTS: The nurses build social representations based on the stereotyped patients, associate them with the idea of receptacles of the disease, besides linking vulnerability with illness and social conditions. CONCLUSION: Social representations about tuberculosis patients are organized based on fear, resting on physical, psychological and social characteristics that help the nurses to outline fhe type-figure of the patient as dangerous.
Nursing; Tuberculosis; Psychology social; Social behavior; Health knowledge, attitudes, practice