Nursing minimum data set: A literature review.
UNLABELLED: Essential information for nurses may be obtained from information technology systems, for this reason it is fundamental the adoption of standard language which translates the essence of nursing. The Nursing Minimum Data Set and Nursing Management Minimum Data are relevant in description, register and retrieval of these data. A literature review on the use of these data sets for research on the subject, the trends and nurses' practice was accomplished. METHOD: Selected articles from the index of Medical Literature and Analysis and Retrieval System on Line (1993 - 2005), from the integrated library archives of Regional Medicine Library, in English and Portuguese. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The findings permitted the identification of the total number of publications which show the necessity o dissemination and discussion of the subject among the Brazilian nurses; description of current health trends, the elderly and chronic disease patients care; nursing home care evaluate trends, justifying costs, comparing and evaluating cares. The increasing interest on the use of these data sets can be explained by the necessity of consistent and available information at the shortest length of time possible.