title: The changing focus of nursing practice in Brazil.
abstract: Using a historical-social perspective, the authors aim at understanding and analysing the vision of supervision and leadership in the history of Brazilian nursing from 1930 to 1995. The empirical material comprised journal articles, books, theses and proceedings. In the first period (1930-1949), preliminary expressions of the organization and control of nursing work were found. In the second (1950-1969), the concept of human relations at work emerged in the third period (1970-1979) evidence was found for concern about staffing structures following changes in the health sector. In the most recent period (1980-1995), a new perspective is established, emphasising nursing as a social practice related to supervision rather than leadership. Based on this historical search, and linked with views of health practice and change in Brazilian society, supervision and leadership can be located within management ideas and practice. These concepts are understood, generally, within a theoretical critique that should demonstrate a close relationship with control of workers or the work process and its effects in the health sector, especially in nursing.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alves Rozendo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laus Ribas Gomes
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Puntel de Almeida
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D049673:History, 20th Century; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000266:history*; D009729:Nursing