Suddenly, Teacher! Paths Taken by Nurses Searching for Teacher Training

Abstract

Objective: to know the paths taken by the nurse-teachers of the Nursing technical course in search of their training for the teaching career. Method: a qualitative and cross-sectional research study, carried out with nurses who teach at the Nursing technical course of a Technical School of the Unified Health System in Ceará. The data were collected through a focus group in October 2019, and analyzed according to Bardin's thematic content analysis, with the aid of the Qualitative Data Analysis Software. Results: the paths for nurses' teacher training permeate their motivation to enter the teaching career, whose reasons are related to the difficulty finding a job in the assistance area, invitation to teach, job opportunity or existence of some need; initial performance in teaching, which emphasizes mid-level; and by training itself, which had its need confirmed and, from the participants' perspective, met through participation in institutional qualifications and personal search for specialization courses. Conclusion: the paths taken by nurse-teachers in search of their training for the teaching career are related to the reasons why they enter teaching, with their initial performance in teaching and with teacher training itself, regarding verification of their need and ways accessed for such qualification. The nurse's prior training for the teaching practice ultimately points to professional excellence and appreciation and commitment to the Unified Health System. Thus, it becomes imperative to (re)formulate policies that consider the complexity and professionality of teaching, with a view to expert teaching training and performance.