RESUMO
Buscou-se verificar a utilização dos termos problemas do paciente e problemas de enfermagem tanto na literatura como entre profissionais de enfermagem. Os achados revelaram terem os termos conceitos distintos porém não uniformes. As divergências maiores centralizam-se no conceito de Problema de Enfermagem. Sugere-se padronização dos mesmos para melhor comunicação entre os profissionais.
The present study looked for the utilization of the terms as "patient problems" and "nursing problems" on the literature and nursing staff. The findings showed that the terms have had distinct concepts but they were not uniforms. The major divergences were focusing on the concept of the "nursing problems". Suggestion was made to the padronization of the terms looking for better communication between nursing staff.