It has been observed nowadays that nurses have not yet consolidated a new professional identity in the majority of mental health institutions compromised with the implementation of Psychiatric Reform. Therefore, the objective of this work is to characterize the nursing care provided in two day-care institutions located in the city of Campinas--SP through an exploratory descriptive study of qualitative nature. The data analysis show that nursing activities concern mostly in fulfilling the client's needs related to the field of Psicho-social Reabilitation. Nevertheless, its implementation displays some contradictions wich evoke the presence of traces compatible with the former model of assistance.36170-6