The objective of this study was to validate the data collection instrument used in adult hospitalization, verifying if the items permitted data collection that enabled the development of later phases of systematization of nursing care, improvement of its operation, and the construction of an instructional guide. The research was conducted in a Medical Clinic at the Lauro Wanderley University Hospital, (HULW), where data collection has taken place since 1984. The technique used for validation was to interview a focus group. The sample consisted of 13 nurses, and the activities took place from September to December 2002. The result of the discussions enabled restructuring of the instrument according to the consensus obtained, adapting it to the most objective form for clinical use according to the characteristics of the clients.
nursing; assessment; validation