Abstract
Objective: Verify the practice of self-medication among nursing professionals working in Basic Health Units (BHU) and Ready Care Unit (PHU). Methods: This is a descriptive, quantitative and exploratory study, carried out in a ready care unit and in basic health units of the municipality. The sample population consisted of 97 professionals. The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by Graphpad prism software. Results: Female gender prevailed with 97% of participants, 66% were nursing technicians, 52.58% were married, age between 31 and 45 years, remuneration of a minimum wage and an employment relationship. As for self-medication 70.10% made irrational use of medication in the last 30 days, 68.70% acquired the medication in pharmacies. The main cause was the improvement of a symptom quickly (42%). The most used class was the analgesic with 48%, or this associated with other classes of medication with 40%. Of the side effects, sleepiness and abdominal discomfort were more cited with 18% and 16% respectively. Conclusion: The highest rate of self-medication was in the UPA and the category that most self-medicated was the nurses.