[Nursing and its practice: thinking and experiences of nurses at the St. Francis of Assisi Teaching Hospital].

This research is of qualitative nature and it aims at studying nurse's social representations towards nursing and its professional practice and the way they effectively accomplish this practice at Rio de Janeiro Federal University San Francisco de Assisi School Hospital (HESFA/UFRJ). Data were collected from interview, campus observations and documents. Data analysis reveal contradictions and conflicts experienced by nurses in their professional praxis. They are beginning a process of reflection on their professional autonomy: they are sorry for the lack of structure is assisting clients properly; they do believe that researching and political participation are essential for profession development.