OBJECTIVE: Understanding regarding the establishment of the nurse's interaction with a community, considering the subject(s), source(s), and purpose(s), based on the perception of nurses working in Family Health. METHODS: Exploratory descriptive study with qualitative analysis of themes developed from semi-structured interviews with 65 nurses who worked within the Family Health Strategy in southern Brazil, from January to July 2006. RESULTS: Two approaches for interaction were found: an immediate one in collective entities, and secondarily, with other team members. In the end, two objects of action emerged: on the population in terms of resolution and integrality with focus on quality of action, bond formation, disease prevention and health promotion directed toward autonomy with co-responsibility; and organized team work directed at the resolution of attention. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize the importance of nurse-community interaction in order to develop actions that strengthen capabilities of individuals / groups and completeness of problem solving and assistance for the organization of work.
Public health Nursing; Family Health Program; Primary attention to health; Labor force; Work