Dramatic play as a ludic strategy for the care of hospitalized patients

Objective: to report the celebration of “festa junina” (harvesting folkloric party) with hospitalized patients and their relatives by means of a dramatic play as a ludic strategy for nursing care. Methodology: this is about a descriptive study, case report type. The population was constituted by hospitalized patients, their relatives and visitors of an internment unit from a countryside public hospital in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. One developed a play called “the hillbillies’ marriage” in nursing rooms and hospitalization rooms of the unit. Results: the patients reported that they felt satisfied and well-pleased after the celebration. Nursing staff group conceived the celebration as a way of complementing and humanizing the health care. Nurses abilities as well as their creative and artistic potentials are important elements in order to implement ludic actions of care. Conclusion: the realization of the play “the hillbillies’ marriage” by the hospitalized patients and their relatives promoted relaxation and joyful moments. It constituted a powerful tool that may help in patients’ therapeutic process. One suggests ludic practices to be adopted by nursing professionals due to the benefits they may provide for all the ones involved in the celebration experience.