Objective: analyze the formation and practice of nurses working in primary health care on the completion of clinical history and physical examination. Methods: a qualitative study, exploratory and descriptive. Interviewed 28 nurses effective or contractors who work in direct patient care, were excluded in the license, clearance, and administrative activities. Data collection was in February and March 2013, through individual interviews, semi-structured, recorded and transcribed for analysis. The results categorized/analyzed in light of the content analysis approved by the Research Ethics Committee under number 124 167. Results: the nurses recognize in their training contents on history and physical examination and value scientific knowledge to assess the patient. They have little contact with this technology after graduation, specializations or in lifelong learning processes. Final thoughts: view the need to emphasize content during training; provide conditions its applicability and foster lifelong learning processe
