Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to describe the use of toys by nursing during the care of children in the inpatient unit; to analyze the factors that influence the use of therapeutic toys by nursing in the care of hospitalized children. METHODS: qualitative research, conducted in a pediatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro between July and August 2019. Semi-structured interview and thematic analysis were used as methodological procedure. RESULTS: the 12 nurses and 7 nursing technicians revealed minimizing fear, relieving tension, and creating a bond between the child and the professional as the main benefits; they use as resources: children's toys, hospital materials, cartoons, and children's videos. The high demand for work, deficit of human resources, and appropriate ludic materials are factors that interfere with the use of toys as a therapeutic resource. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: although the participants recognize the importance of the toy as a therapeutic resource, there is no systematization of its use in pediatric practice.