Work and practices of nursing in Primary Health Care in the state of Paraíba – Brazil: professional profile and care practices in the care dimension

ABSTRACT Nursing work involves care and management dimensions, reflected in the production of care actions in the care of individuals, families and communities. The objective was to analyze the Primary Health Care (PHC) nursing work process in Paraíba, considering the professional profile and individual daily practices developed by nurses in the care dimension. A quantitative approach study, carried out at the PHC services in Paraíba between November 2019 and August 2021. The analysis of quantitative data was performed using the SPSS® software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 21.0 for Windows®, using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The results showed, among other aspects, that 93.3% professionals are female; with regard to professional training, specialization was the most common type of degree among the professionals surveyed; among the practices analyzed, prenatal consultations were considered the most resolute, according to the perception of 388 (84%) professionals surveyed. It is concluded that, regarding the sociodemographic profile, the female sex predominates among the nurses surveyed, regarding training, there is a need for qualification at residency and stricto sensu postgraduate levels. In the care dimension, the nursing consultation in prenatal care, as a problem-solving practice of care in PHC in Paraíba.