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This article presents a qualitative case study where the unit of analysis was the Family Health Program team of Natal city, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The objectives were to analyze the conceptualizations of the professionals regarding teamwork as well as to identify in these practices the elements that contribute to an effective change in the hegemonic health model. The study was based on the Peduzzi (1998) typology and definition of health team and was conducted in six family health units in the North and East health districts selected by a pre-established criteria. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview applied in family health teams, which were analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse proposed by Lefèvre and Lefèvre (2003). The results indicate a predominance of an integrated team type, and also that teamwork is an essential element for the development of the Family Health Strategy.

This article deals with the educational and managerial actions of nurses in the Family Health Program (FHP). It traces the reality of the FHP within the institutional setting of the city of Natal/RN, raises some questions and analyzes the educational action of the program in the daily routine of the Health Units in the light of the literature. Its objective is to contribute to the reflection about the managerial action of the nurse in that setting, in connection with pedagogical and educational action. The study demonstrates that, as a result of its innovative nature, the Family Health Strategy is facing challenges such as the need to define the profile of competencies for these professionals, their qualification processes, continued and permanent education, and new managerial models for nursing that should specifically meet the daily demands.

Teamwork is one of the main pillars of Family Health Care projects, although it is not a strategy exclusively applied to such programs. It is not frequently discussed in current collective health research studies, but the perspective resulting from the full range of its action favors interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary actions. Thus, when building a Family Health Project, teamwork should be guided by a common health care purpose and the players involved should develop an interaction movement within the team itself as well as in relation to the community. It is therefore critical to establish communication practices for mutual understanding. This paper presents some preliminary considerations on the teamwork strategy in Family Health Care actions, indicating barriers and potentials in the construction of this health care model.