The Teaching of Sign Language in Undergraduate Nursing Courses: A Descriptive Study as an Attribute to the Integrality of Care

Abstract

Background: Current and future generations of nurses must be prepared to communicate and properly care for deaf patients. The objective of this study is to describe how Brazilian Sign Language is taught in undergraduate Nursing courses. Method: This was a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, performed with fifteen professors from four universities, two public and two private and in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, through individual interviews with an analysis procedure guided by Content Analysis. Results: The teaching is restricted to the adoption of planned and established approaches to sign language and procedures to assess theoretical contents and practical domains sign language teaching exclusively in elective course often offered through the online platform. Conclusion: We conclude that professors are not prepared for the teaching of sign language and that curricula need to be appropriate to the demand of full and indistinct assistance to the population’s needs.