We described the use of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy in the professional practice of nurses graduated from the School of Nursing of University of São Paulo (EE-USP). A case study of qualitative approach was conducted. Data were collected from focus groups and we did thematic content analysis. IMCI strategy was considered an important tool in child health care, but only the assessment module was part of professional practice. Difficulties in the use of the IMCI were: the strategy was not implanted at health services, it was unknown to part of co-workers and institutional obstacles. Despite of the limited and non-systematic use of IMCI, it has allowed nurses to provide integrated and comprehensive attention to the child, which justifies its teaching on undergraduate courses. Maintenance of the tutorial video, expansion of the practice, integration of disciplines and optimization of content and workload were suggested for improving the teaching of IMCI in undergraduate courses.
Child health (public health); Primary health care; Nursing care