The practice of obstetric nurses with a degree from the Specialization Course at Anna Nery School of Nursing/A pratica dos enfermeiros obstetras egressos da Especializacao da Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery/La practica de los enfermeros obstetras egre sos de la Especializacion de la Escuela de Enfermeria Anna Nery

This study has a two-folded aim: to describe the course of professional practice of nurses with a degree from Specialization Courses in Obstetric Nursing (CEEO) at Anna Nery School of Nursing (EEAN)/Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), and to characterize the professional practice of those nurses. This is a quantitative-qualitative study, whose subjects are 20 obstetric nurses with a degree from CEEO/EEAN, practicing in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews from March to September, 2008. Content analysis gave rise to two categories: the course of professional practice of obstetric nurses with a degree and the employment of obstetric nurses in their area of specialization. Conclusions show there must be better employment of students with a degree at parturition and birth-related health institutions. Lack of pregnancy and childbirth institutional policies focused on integration of obstetric nursing and medical hegemony brings negative consequences to this process.