To care for or treat? Seeking the field of competence and professional identity of nursing

Qualitative study which purpose was to identify the central nucleus of the social representations about the concepts of taking care and treating under the vision of the nursing professionals. Participated in the study45 subject. The data had been analyzed with the aid of Evoc software. The results reveal that the social representations of the professionals concerning the concepts of taking care and treating point to opposing actions and not complementary in the act of taking care. We conclude that this aspect can compromise the definition of the field of nursing practice and its professional identity. The challenge is in linking the treatment effect that care process and the contributions of the nursing cares in the health practices are irreplaceable.