Nursing evaluation constitutes an indispensable process in treating wounds. The objectives of this article are to verify the aspects considered by nurses in the wound evaluation process, identify the material resources used in order to proceed to the evaluation, and to investigate adherence to protocols and possible difficulties in their execution. This is an exploratory-descriptive study of qualitative nature, carried out among 14 nurses from four public hospitals in João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. The data was collected during August and September of 2005 through recorded and non-recorded interviews. In order to analyze the responses given, the collective subject technique was applied. This study verified that a lack of material leads to a superficial evaluation; that the absence of protocol makes the evaluation difficult; and medical imposition, the lack of experience, and the lack of specific training were the main difficulties revealed. The needs to create material conditions and improve scientific knowledge regarding the wound evaluation process were evidenced.
Nursing cares; Evaluation; Wounds and injuries