Autonomia do paciente terminal: percepção da enfermagem de uma unidade de internação hemato oncológica

Objective: to know the perception of nursing professionals about autonomy of the terminally ill patient. Methods: qualitative research, exploratory and descriptive with 23 professionals from nursing staff (auxiliaries nursing, nursing technicians, and nurses) of a teaching Hospital in southern Brazil. Semi-directed interview was, applied recorded during September and October 2013, which were transcribed and analyzed after. Results: showed the exiguity of the autonomy of the patient under diverse perspectives such as: levels of consciousness changed, limitation by disease and lack of clarification about the treatment. Final thoughts: nursing realize that not always the patient or family member is able to make choices about treatment. This is due to the observation of missing, the patients or their family, technical and scientific knowledge to make choices