Representations of community nurses about ethical and legal aspects in the care with medicinal plants

ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the social representations of community nurses about ethical and legal aspects of the therapeutic use of medicinal plants. Material and Methods: Qualitative, descriptive and hermeneutical study, guided by the Social Representations in their procedural approach. Methods of information gathering consisted of focused interview and two focus groups. Data and source triangulation were conducted, using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: Six categories were established: public policies, prescription of medicinal plants, quality of phytopharmaceuticals, complementary care, evidence-based health care and community education. Conclusion: Two central aspects emerged: the development of public policies to support the practice of the profession, and the advancement of the nurse prescribing, contributing to autonomy with respect to health care provision with medicinal plants in the community.