This study aims to identify aspects of the practical dimension in nursing care under the perspective from the social representations elaborated by nursing students beginning the graduation, and others about to conclude it. The theoretical-methodological reference was the Theory of Social Representations. This was an exploratory qualitative study, collecting data through individual interviews applied to 28 students which had a thematic content analysis. The results showed the peculiarities of the constituent elements of social representations made by both groups. Social representations of both groups are distinguished, as the beginners describe a practice focused on affective and expressive aspects markedly while the students about to be graduated bring, effectively, a combination of these aspects with scientific knowledge. Conclusion: The graduation program gradually influences the social representations in care, and consequently in its practical dimension.
Nursing; Nursing Care; Psychology Social