REFLECTIONS ON FUNCTIONALISM AND NURSING EDUCATION

Abstract

Understanding the social dynamics that permeate health and nursing requires a critical analysis of the sociological foundations that structure these practices. Functionalism, by conceiving society as an integrated system, has influenced the organization of health services and nursing education, consolidating the normative biomedical model and the view of disease as a deviation from the social order. In this context, medical practice and the hospital environment take center stage, impacting the curriculum and care practices. This study aims to analyze professional health education from a functionalist perspective, discussing contributions, limits, and current challenges. It is a theoretical framework based on review and critical analysis from classic authors, such as Durkheim and Parsons, and Brazilian collective health, especially Minayo. It is concluded that, despite being influential, functionalism becomes insufficient in the face of contemporary demands, requiring critical, integrative approaches centered on the territory and the subject.