Bach’s flowers and self-knowledge of nurse professor

Abstract

Introduction: Teacher self-knowledge represents an important tool for the development of communicative ability applied in the relation between student and nursing educator in the praxis of the teaching process. In this sense, floral therapy can be used as a therapeutic resource to assist the teaching nurse in the search of his perceptive awareness and self-knowledge. Objectives: To identify the Bach System flowers that can help nursing educators in the search for self-knowledge and investigate in which aspects the use of this therapy can contribute to the improvement of the interpersonal relations of these individuals. Methods: A qualitative study, carried out at a Public University in the interior of the State of São Paulo/Brazil, with 15 nursing professors. Data collection took place during the period when the participants used the flower essences, through semi-structured interviews that were treated according to the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: Water violet, Oak, Elm, Chestnut bud, Walnut, Star of Bethelem and Honeysuckle were the most requested flower essences. The qualitative analysis identified four discourse anchors that demonstrated participants’ experience during floral therapy. Conclusion: Floral therapy was a therapeutic resource for teacher self-knowledge, triggering a perception of self and of collectivity.