ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses nursing as a social practice and uses Maria da Gloria Miotto Wright’s “Critical-Holistic Paradigm for an Interdependent World” as a guiding framework. It offers a multidimensional view of Brazilian nursing by considering the relationship among various international determinants and national conditions, and identifies the complex relationships in nursing as it attempts to transform itself in the 21st century. The chapter looks at international and national market demands and their primary effects on the national health system; social and professional demands and their primary effects on nursing practice; and the science and technology demands with their primary effects on nursing higher education and research. It presents an analysis of contemporary demands and trends in Brazilian nursing. Nursing has incorporated innovative technology and computer science in its educational programs. In Brazil, nursing schools have developed curricular models based on nursing and other theories. The chapter concludes with an examination of proposals for transformative action.
