Introduction: One of the issues considered today as an obstacle for the control of tuberculosis in the world scenario, regards the nonadherence of the patient for the treatment of the disease, resulting in complications to the health of the individual and negative implications for public health. Objective: To analyze the speeches of nurses working in the Family Health Strategy, about the difficulties in adherence to Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) of tuberculosis in the city of João Pessoa, state of Paraiba, Brazil. Method: Qualitative study and discursive approach, developed in August and October 2012. Through the technique of interview guided by a semi driven script, thirteen nurses working in the Family Health Strategy were interviewed in the city of João Pessoa, state of Paraiba, Brazil. The empirical material produced was analyzed according to the theoretical and methodological device of Discourse Analysis of pecheutiana French line. Results: The discursive analysis made from the textual marks present in the speeches of enunciators indicates that the difficulties in joining the directly observed treatment of tuberculosis in the city of João Pessoa, bind to patients, health professionals and treatment. In relation to the patient, the analysis points to discursive formations linked to the stigma, commitment in the treatment and low level of education. As for healthcare professionals, fear of contagion of the disease-reinforced by the stigma-and the transfer of responsibility in caring to other professionals were observed. Notably, the spoken relapse, in