[Unveiling meanings of the first in-bed patient bathing to students at a school of nursing assistants].

The present study aims to unveiling the meanings of first inbed patient bathing for students of a school of nursing assistants. The present study had a qualitative design and counted with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Study participants were six students. Data collection was carried out through a semi-structured interview; and discourse analysis was done with a hermeneutic approach (RICOUER, 1990; MOTTA, 1997; CROSSETTI, 1997). Topics unveiled were both the act of facing a new situation and inbed bathing as a moment of providing healthcare. We believe that the understanding of these meanings is essential for the planning of healthcare teaching, helping students to overcome difficulties during inbed bathing.