Hospitalized school children: proposition of a data collection instrument in light of Horta's theory.

Objetivo: To build a data collection tool for hospitalized schoolchildren in light of the Theory of Basic Human Needs.

Method: Methodological research developed in a a Teaching Hospital in João Pessoa, with the participation of eight teachers and assistant nurses, from July 2014 to March 2015. Statistical analysis was used to validate the empirical indicators.

Resultados: The indicators were identified from the instrument analysis validated for children, considering the International Nursing Minimum Data Set, which resulted in version 1 of the instrument with 301 indicators. The instrument validation resulted in 288 indicators, which were later revalidated and formatted once the instrument's final version was reached.

Conclusion: The instrument has contributed to data collection in teaching hospitals and has guided the other phases of the nursing process, considering the specific needs of these children, collaborating with the nursing care, education and research.