[Training of auxiliary nursing personnel in the health services: Brazil].

In this article the authors present an overview of training of the labor force in health in Brazil. The analysis focuses on nursing services, as there is a need to train professionals to work in the area of nursing. To date, nursing has been exercised to a large extent by lay personnel, who do not have specific training, to the detriment of the population seeking medical services. The article highlights a project (Projeto Larga Escala) aimed at turning mid- and elementary-level personnel into professionals through on-the-job training. Such training integrates education and evaluation into the workers' day-to-day activities. This type of education also benefits nurses with high-level training, who become educators. In preparing for that new role, they undergo a process similar to a refresher course, renewing their technical skills.