“O que os olhos não veem, o coração sente”: Relato de experiência de um estágio em Psicologia em um hospital universitário

Abstract

This article presents an experience report of a Psychology internship carried out at the Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (HC-UFU), and aims to describe the practices developed during the internship, with a reflective look toward the proposed activities and challenges encountered. The report' main data source is the intern's field diary with the records of six patients, which is accompanied by a literature survey on the psychologists' role in a hospital context. The six patients were adult males who had undergone at least one cardiac surgery. A careful reading of the entries from the field diary reveal three main themes, which are presented in conjunction with the relevant literature: (I) first psychological care; (II) patient's understanding surrounding the hospitalization and the procedures to be performed/existent worries/possibilities of intervention of Psychology; (III) illness and work. The interventions that were carried out and the contributions from the practice of Psychology are presented, highlighting the necessity of communication between the medical team and the patient. It was observed that a common concern raised by all six patients involved occupational issues, more specifically the return to work after medical clearance. Following this observation is a discussion about the repercussions of illness for men engaged in manual labor. Finally, this study seeks to contribute to the literature and emphasize the need for more study intertwining Psychology and Cardiology, beyond the mere symbolic aspect of the heart.