title: Continued nursing education in university hospitals in southern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzed the continued nursing education process in three university hospitals in southern Brazil. Its theoretical reference was centered upon the problematization pedagogy of Freire and the levels of practice of Vázquez.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative case study, based on multiple holistic cases. The data were collected through document analysis, observation of scenarios, and semistructured interviews with 22 nursing employees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thematic analysis evidenced the continued nursing education process, highlighting initiatives such as the creation of the Center for Nursing Education and Research, the Permanent Nursing Education Center, and the Continued Nursing Education Program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study serves as an important tool for the transformation of the reality of health care subjects and institutions.
authors: Nursing Department, UFSC, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: Vania
authors: V
authors: Backes
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Prado
authors: Alacoque
authors: A
authors: Erdmann
authors: Fabiane
authors: F
authors: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001938:Brazil; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*