This article presents an analysis of published scientific articles and of trends in scientific production on nursing, addressing the subjectivity in the work of nursing and the theoretical and methodological framework of ergology. The ergological perspective sees work as an essentially human activity that involves the worker's use of himself, mediated by the dynamic three-pole device. Articles, dissertations and theses were searched for in the Virtual Health Library, PubMed, and in the thesis database of the Ministry of Education's Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) from April to July 2011 and from February to April 2012. Sixty-nine published articles, 14 dissertations and eight theses were reviewed. The findings lead one to realize the importance of nurses using themselves in overcoming the gaps between prescribed and actual work. We conclude that further investments in studies on the nurses' relationship with their work, associated with the ergology referential, may explore how decision-making takes place, the meaning given to the experience and the singularities arising from the work practice.
nursing; work; nurses
