Advances are needed in the implementation of the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil. Health workers are instituting agents of change in the practices of the working world. This paper aims to understand some possibilities to ponder on the political dimension in training these workers. The territory of study was a multidisciplinary health residence program in São Paulo. For data production, as well as observation, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 residents, preceptors, mentors and program coordination. The analysis was divided into powers for the political dimension in teaching practices and management practices of the Residence. Powers were met in educational, management and world of care. Tensions created a process of self-examination in the subjects involved and provided new arrangements in the training process. It was evident that the residences can be devices for the formation of health workers in defense of SUS.
Education; nonmedical internship; power; continuing education