The objective of the study was to learn the Social Representations of Biosecurity elaborated by nursing professionals and to analyze how these representations influence the practice and quality of the assistance given. This is an exploratory study based on the Theory of Social Representations, and was done at an emergency service in a public hospital with 60 nursing professionals. The data was collected through the technique of Free Word Association by using the words as stimulus: biosecurity and hospital infection. The data was processed on the Tri Deux Mots software and a Correspondence Factor Analysis was done. The results showed that biosecurity was seen through the evocations disposable, anti-septic, and immunization, while hospital infection was seen through the evocations disease and uncleanness. Finally, it should be noted that Biosecurity has still not been incorporated as a group of measures necessary to control hospital infections. The economical, biological and epidemiological aspects predominate especially from the social and psychological point of view.
Nursing; Exposure to biological agents; Cross Infection; Psychology Social
