Objective: To describe the meaning attributed by specialist nurses to the promotion of the elderly's autonomy.
Method: This is a phenomenological study, according to Giorgi's method, which uses semi-structured interviews. Eighteen specialist nurses participated, recruited using convenience sampling, in two hospitals in the northern region of Portugal, between March and December 2018.
Results: Five themes emerged: use of instruments; use of theoretical framework; nursing diagnoses; prescription of interventions; nursing records.
Conclusion: Specialist nurses use instruments that essentially promote the elderly's physical capacity, within the scope of autonomy. The information systems used to record the diagnoses and prescriptions for interventions do not reflect the intervention for the person's autonomy. Autonomy in a multidimensional way is not very well developed, despite the recognition of its importance for the elderly's quality of life and dignity.