title: Meanings attributed by nurses to ensure the care of critical patients in the light of simulations' premises.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the feelings experienced by nurses in caring the first visit to a critical patient.
  
  
  
  Understand the ethical aspects from the first experiences in the nursing profession lead us to reflect on the teaching-learning methodologies and also their improvements.
  
  
  
  A study with a mixed and exploratory approach was realized with the nurses.
  
  
  
  From 72 (100.0%) nurses who participated in the study, 56 (77.8%) did their first visit to critical patients in the clinical practice and did not feel prepared. The feelings mentioned were as follows: insecurity due to lack of skill, risk both to the patient and also the professional, feelings of fear, anxiety, discomfort and related aspects to ethical competence.
  
  
  
  The feelings experienced by professionals led us to reflect about the function of institutions, which must have the commitment and the responsibility of providing to the society able professionals who are acting safely and with technical and scientific expertise in valuing human integrity.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo G S
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzo
authors.affiliation: Nursing School of Coimbra-ESEnfC, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Carlos Amado
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine Cristina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Furlan Miranda
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Della Torre
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Aparecida Arena
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing-WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Amélia Costa
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Mendes
mesh_terms: D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Health professions; Learning; Nursing education; Simulation; Teaching