Social representations of work for hospital professionals

Abstract

Social representations of work were identified and analyzed in a hospital in the state of Minas Gerais. In a qualitative approach, a case study was made and, while not using a probabilistic intentional sample, 21 professionals were interviewed with a semi-structured script about work. Although there are methodological limitations to inductive thought beginning with a case study, analysis of interviews revealed social representations of work for hospital workers, especially regarding management of work, professional vocation and job satisfaction and interpersonal and professional relationships between levels of hierarchy. We concluded that only after social representations of work are well understood by human beings can organizations offer more satisfactory and productive environments.