This study aimed to learn the nurses' opinion concerning the work they perform with families in the context of the Family Health Program and which are the necessary competences to accomplish it. This is an exploratory-descriptive study, of qualitative nature, carried out with 20 nurses who worked at a Family Health Center. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview and the Bardin's referential was used for the analysis of content. The results revealed that the work with families is structured based on the actions and relationships existent between the professionals and the families, because the establishment and maintenance of such relations interfere in the quality of the assistance. Regarding the necessary competences, the importance of the scientific technical knowledge (know-how) and especially the ability to relate with the families and with other team members are emphasized. In addition, commitment, involvement and ethical posture were named, which are aspects easily reached when a person likes what (s)he does.
nurse's role; family health; family nursing; family health program