The present study aimed at understanding the nurses' experiences by assessing the process of caring for a patient under parenteral nutrition. We used symbolic interactionism and a data-based theory as a theoretical and methodological referential. Ten nurses that experienced this practice in a public hospital in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, took part. Data collection took place during the period from April 1st to December 30th, 2001 through participatory observation and semi-structured interviews. We identified the phenomenon "Assessing the process of caring for a patient under parenteral nutrition" which expresses the nurse's experiences by showing attitude, feelings and meanings for care.
nurse's care; parenteral nutrition; symbolic interactionism; data-based theory