Abstract
Introduction: Patient safety, a current theme today, although well discussed in Brazil, still presents several barriers. Among these, difficulties are observed both in terms of the structure of the service provider and the level of professional conduct. The Pap smear (PCCU) is an examination that requires the perfect execution, structure, and materials appropriate to the correct outcome and to the achievement of its objective by detecting cervical cancer and the nurse represents a key factor in the success of the PCCU exam. Experience report: The study was based on a Family Health Strategy (ESF), located in the city of Belém / PA. The object of study was chosen, observed and compared to the current literature, being the material of the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, immunohistochemistry and cytopathology (LABPAC) used for theoretical foundation. These materials gave the author (s) permission to observe the conduct and structure of the site in a critical manner. After exhaustion of the literature, four segments were created ("demand", "necessary auxiliary materials", "materials for collection", "professional conduct"), that is, safety parameters that were evaluated and confronted with the current recommendations conjuncture. Discussion: In order to perform a correct cytological collection, the nurse must ensure all necessary material, as well as specific knowledge and experiences. It is concluded that there is a deficiency regarding patient safety in the examination of PCCU in the FHT analyzed, but this deficiency is present due to the lack of financial and physical resources, and not to the lack of professional knowledge.