The social network of children with special healthcare needs in the (in)visibility of nursing care

This study aimed to identify the (in)visibility of nursing care and discuss ways of (dis)articulating this care with family care in the social network of children with special healthcare needs. A qualitative research was performed with health professionals at a pediatric hospital, four units of the Family Medical Program (FMP), and children's relatives living in Niterói (RJ). The field work was put in practice after IRB approval (HESFA/EEAN), consisting of five semi-structured interviews and two group dynamics. Critical Discourse Analysis indicated that nursing care is visible in the child's social network through the nurse's educational and care activities and home visits by the nurisng aide of the FMP. Due to errors in the national health system's referral and counter-referral, mothers articulate the network and not the health service; thus, the reorganization of the system in the State would foster social networks that are less wearing for their families.