The study aimed to identify the meaning of health education for the nurses of the Family Health Strategy Program (ESF) and the individual and collective educational actions developed by them. In the research took part 20 nurses who work in the ESF program within the 10th Regional of Health of Paraná State. This is a descriptive-exploratory study with qualitative approach. Data were collected in April 2010 through semi-structured recorded interviews, and submitted to the analysis of its categorical content. Results point to two categories: unveiling of the meaning of health education under the nurses' view; and the educational praxis in the quotidian of the nurses. It is concluded that there is a need of clarifying the objectives of ESF related to health education to the professionals, and to establish a training process and permanent education so that it becomes effective propitiating prevention of diseases and promoting health to the population.
Health Education; Family Health; Public Health Nursing; Primary Health Care