This article presents a reflection concerning the organization of work in nursing in the context of the organization of work in health care. It is theoretically sustained by the historical-dialectic materialism upon human labor process and it is also based upon a critical vision about the profession concept elaborated by the sociology of professions and upon some theories in the field of administration that have been influenced nursing work. The study is based upon data obtained in six (6) field research, three (3) of which resulted in master's theses and three (3) of which resulted in doctorate dissertations. These six researches dealt with the theme of the organization of work in health and nursing, using a qualitative approach and involving the participation of diverse members of nursing team. This study conceptualizes the organization of work from both the workplace perspective and macro-social relationships. It highlights that the transformations that have occurred in the world of work have influenced the work in health care, but the organizational model of work continues influenced by the Taylor's logic of work organization. It concludes that the reality of the organization of nursing work can be changed by nursing professionals' collective action in alliance with other organized sectors of society and in accordance with the health care users' needs.
work in health care; work organization; organization of nursing work; nursing workers; unregistered nurses