to identify characteristics related to the interruption of nurses in professional practice, as well as to assess the implications of interruptions for patient safety.
integrative literature review. The following databases were searched: Pubmed/Medline, LILACS, SciELO and Cochrane Library, using the descriptors interruptions and patient safety. An initial date was not established, but the final date was December 31, 2013. A total of 29 papers met the inclusion criteria.