The study sought to understand--from the viewpoint of the hospitalized user--the perception and the difficulties involved in administering hospital attendance in surgical inpatient units at a public hospital in the city of Niteroi, R.J., and discuss them in light of the concepts of Institutional Analysis (IA). Maintaining the emotional and social bonds of the hospitalized individual is essential and is encouraged by public health policies. However, discussions are needed about how to take maximum advantage of this possibility. In the descriptive research using a qualitative approach, the techniques of semi-structured interviews and field observations were used and the resulting data were classified using Content Analysis. Three thematic areas were identified for discussion, namely the presence of nurses for care requests, interference in communication between the companions and nurses, and the conditions of comfort afforded to the companion. The conclusions drawn from the studies relating to the presence of the companion together with the hospitalized user are that it is indispensable to include companions and the nursing team in the discussions and the creation of strategies to make this user right a reality.