Sociodemographic and training profile of nurses working in primary care health in the Federal District

Abstract

The objective of the article was to analyze the sociodemographic profile and academic background of nurses working in Primary Health Care in the Federal District. Data come from the research “Nursing Practices in the Context of Primary Health Care: national study of mixed methods”; were collected by electronic questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The questionnaire was answered by 329 nurses included according to the criteria of working in family health teams or in primary care management positions for at least two years, who agreed to participate in the national study that originated the data. Resident nurses, nurses on leave of any kind or those who refused to participate were excluded. The study showed a sociodemographic profile that was mostly female, middle-aged, mostly black/brown, married, Catholic. Most professionals were not born in the municipality where they work, but chose to live there, and have been working there for 12 years or more. As for training, the majority graduated from Brazilian private educational institutions, with a large contingent of specialists and a small number of masters, doctors and post-doctors. The influence of the profession's historical and social formation on the category's profile is noted, crossed by elitist, sexist and racist issues, interconnected with nursing practices, the structuring of the world of work and the social recognition of the professional. Therefore, it is necessary to break with the sociocultural and historical paradigm that excludes professional training, for the progress of autonomy, recognition and professional valuation.