Primary health care workers' view on the presence of nursing students

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to analyze the view of the workers at a basic health unit on the presence of nursing students at the service. Eighteen workers participated in semi-structured interviews, analyzed after transcription. In the content analysis, we identified two themes: The slowing and quickening of service and The (un)preparedness to learn and teach. The results point to a process of teaching-service partnership still under construction, in which workers feel as though they are learning, but also feel devalued. The presence of the students changes the work dynamics, slowing it. At the same time, the presence of the students questions the hegemonic ways of rapid assistance. An expectation of collaboration in actions is evidenced, there being a preference for students in the last years of undergraduate courses, who perform procedures and do not require constant accompanying. We conclude that the approach between university and primary healthcare services exposes tensions which, collectively analyzed, can engender new ways of caring, teaching and learning.