This was an activity developed in the Collective Health Management course, by nursing students in the eighth semester from Unochapecó U niversity. The students were challenged to apply their knowledge of the Unique Health System principles and directives, through an active participation in the Situational Strategic Planning with use of the Family Health Strategy. The theoretical and practical activities were carried out in health centers in Chapecó (SC, Brazil). The students experienced the daily life of the workers, participated in team meetings, domiciliary visits and other work routines, in order to diagnose problem situations and develop the four moments of the Situational Strategic Planning along with the Health Team: explicative, normative, strategic and tactical-operational. The experience consolidated the relation between theory and practice and contributed to the critical-constructive training of students, who helped the team to face the problems. The experience also provided them with a good opportunity for academic-professional interaction through their contact with the workers.
Education, nursing; Management; Planning; Family health