Nurses' leadership in child health consultations: a socio-historical study

To analyze the work of nurses in child health consultations in Primary Health Care.

A socio-historical study with a qualitative approach, grounded in the Thematic Oral History technique. The participants were 15 nurses from Primary Health Care in a municipality in southern Brazil. Data were collected between September and November 2023 through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were submitted to a transcreation process. Subsequently, thematic analysis was performed with the support of ATLAS.ti 9® software, and the findings were interpreted based on Eliot Freidson's Sociology of Professions.

Three categories emerged: Nursing consultations in child health: childhood health problems; Difficulties faced in nursing consultations in child health; Nurses' leadership: building bonds and autonomy in child health consultations.

Child health consultations strengthen nurses' autonomy and leadership in Primary Health Care by articulating technical-scientific knowledge, clinical judgment, family bonding, prevention of health problems, and health surveillance. However, this practice is marked by social vulnerabilities, structural limitations, difficulties in longitudinal care, and physician-centered resistance. The findings indicate the need for continuing education strategies, clinical training, and intersectoral actions to qualify and strengthen nursing practice in this area.