Características do processo de trabalho do enfermeiro da estratégia de saúde da família

Abstract

Descriptive qualitative research study that used non-participant systhematic observation techniques for data collection. The study aimed to characterize the work activities undertaken by nurses who work in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in a health unit in a city in southern Brazil, according to the five dimensions of the work process in nursing: political participation, assistance, management, research and teaching. The work activities of four nurses were observed and recorded for a week. The results were analyzed and categorized according to the five dimensions of the nursing work process, according to object and aims, respectively. Nurses spent more time in the assistance dimension (41.9%), followed by management (32.5%), teaching (20%), and politically participation (2.5%). Despite being considered essential for professional practice, no research activity by nurses was observed. Contrary to the literature used for the theoretical foundation of this research, we found that nurses devoted more time to assistance than to management, and that even management activities were directly linked to the assistance dimension since they were related to the management of care. The ESF is a privileged space for the practice of teaching and its insertion in the public service gives nurses more opportunities for political participation. A partnership between universities and healthcare institutions, integrating teaching and the service would put nurses in closer contact with the research dimension.