CONTINUING HEALTH EDUCATION FOR NURSING TECHNICIANS AND ASSISTANTS WHO WORK IN VACCINATION ROOMS

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccination room is a sector of Primary Health Care (PHC) intended for the application of immunobiologicals, according to the National Vaccination Calendar. The permanent qualification of professionals who work in this space ensures user confidence and reduces possible errors. Objective: To plan, develop, apply, and evaluate Permanent Health Education (PHC) actions for Nursing technicians and assistants in the vaccination room in a PHC health service. Method: Qualitative study, of the action research type, whose participants were Nursing technicians and assistants who worked in PHC services in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (n=31). EPS actions were carried out in three meetings, 30 days apart and lasting approximately two hours. The information recorded from participants' reports at each meeting was analyzed using content analysis. Results: Weaknesses were identified in the daily work in the vaccination room involving communication between professionals, the quality of materials, the difficulty of handling information systems, the number of people in the vaccination room, the difficulty of users who lived outside the territory accessing the service for vaccination and the lack of adequate hygiene in the area. The most common mistakes made by professionals were recording errors and errors associated with vaccine age limits. EPS caused organizational changes, in internal communication and in the hygiene flow. There was a positive perception of EPS by participating professionals. Conclusion: The EPS triggered the mobilization and interest of Nursing technicians and assistants for the permanent development of this educational practice, covering not only topics related to vaccination, but also issues pertinent to the work of the Nursing team in PHC.