The role of the public health nurse has been analysed in the teaching context, as a landmark for a practical evaluation. The aims are: 1) to identify the role of the public health nurse projected upon the programme contexts of the Rio Grande do Norte Federal University Nursing School public health subjects since its planting in 1974 up to 1990 and, 2) to evaluate the projected conceptions in teaching as to the reality of the graduated practices. The role theory conceptualizations led to the understanding of the term "role" and the concept internalization process. Qualitative approach with data collection triangulation has been used. The data have been obtained from two sources: at course programme context and from graduated nurses from these courses. Document analysis technique has been applied for 70 Public Health Subjects programmes and a stratified randomized sample of 60 nurses has been interviewed using a specific questionnaire. The data have been analysed under the light of the theory of papers for concept identifycation of concept. Next, the concept of health policy estabilished by the time of the study, has been analysed. The results have shown that the public health nurse projected into the contents focuses assistence , educative and administrative functions into a preventive view. The aim of public health nursing has been prevention, inside a primary assistance practice, and , more recently, inside a change and transformation perspective for the social questions and health policy. It focuses the planner nurse, competent at epidemiologycal tech-niques. The Graduated perception is also preventive and focuses an educative and aware role of the nurse, although little advance has been observed regarding to population social questions. There is an incompatibility between the concepts expressed at the course and the ones requested at the professional practice, reflecting graduated unsatisfaction with the formation acquired during the course that outstands technical insecurity at the practice. It has been concluded that the public health nursing practice has attended the demands of the up-to-date health policies, but not the nurse practice demands. Such a contrast'between teaching and public health nursing shows the necessity of a curriculum revision as to the public health nursing work object.
Public Health Practice and Nursing Education; Public Health praxis