[Non-verbal communication; reflections on body language]. / Comunicação não-verbal: reflexões acerca da linguagem corporal.

The present study aimed to reflect on the importance of body language through the identification of what a graduate nursing group knew about this topic. We analyzed the contents of reports from which five categories emerged: concept, function, importance, meaning and forms of body language manifestation. The group valued body language as a complex way of interpersonal interaction that sometimes occurs out of our control and of which we have little conscience. It has the function of expressing feelings, emotions and transmitting messages whose meanings are influenced by context. Body language knowledge increases our professional perception and it is one more instrument to improve nursing assistance quality.

[What nurses say about observation]. / O que dizem os enfermeiros sobre observação.

The purpose of this study was to characterize what faculty and clinical nurses understand about Observation at their professional activities. Eleven nurses were interviewed, and the data were joined in categories in order to be analyzed. It was possible to realize that they regard it with extreme importance at their professional activities, as an essential instrument of nursing care administration, assessment, planning interventions and evaluating results.