Studies on nursing assistants are rare, even on nursing assistants in family health teams. The article is based on a study that intended to determine the profile of Nursing Assistants in the Family Health Program in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, to identify their level of satisfaction with work, to seek suggestions for improving the Family Health Program, and to assess their expectations as to their professional future. In 2004, the Department of Primary Health Care and Family Health Program of the Municipal Health Secretariat of São Paulo sent out a questionnaire to the members of the city's teams. The analysis of the answers of 901 nursing assistants received support from Unesco. The major results presented in this article are the predominance of women, young individuals and individuals only with secondary school education in the teams; most of whom had been through basic training for the Family Health Program; and only a small number of whom had completed technical courses. Nurses are satisfied with work relations and work processes, but dissatisfied with work conditions. The most mentioned reasons for having chosen the profession were solidarity and the care for other people. On the other hand, the reasons for having entered the Family Health Program were the fact that it was an alternative in the job market and because of society's appreciation of the field. Most of them intend to continue training, later completing undergraduation in Nursing and specializing in Public Health or Family Health.
nursing assistant; social profile of the Family Health Program; training; professionals expectations
