The paper aims to show the features of the roles played by the nursing team in the sample collection service of a clinical laboratory by identifying the activities carried out by different agents and their insertion in the organizational structure. The theoretical reference framework is based on studies about the work process and human resources in health and nursing. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire, which was applied to a sample of 45 institutions. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results show that 77.8% of the laboratories under analysis have nursing auxiliaries, 13% practical nurses and 33.3% nurses. Work division is observed: nurses are mainly in charge of managerial tasks, whereas nursing auxiliaries and nursing technicians are responsible for performing technical assistance activities, with no distinction between the latter’s roles. There are other health professionals carrying out the same activities, and nursing is subordinated to other activity areas in 24 (53.3%) laboratories. This study highlights the lack of specificity of nursing actions and their lack of autonomy in the study environment.
sample collection; work; nursing; labor force
