Crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil: o papel do enfermeiro na Atenção Primária à Saúde

Introduction: The National Policy for Comprehensive Child Health Care highlights the importance of comprehensive care in early childhood, a crucial phase of human development. In this context, the Child Growth and Development consultation, carried out by nurses, is strategic for monitoring child health, allowing early detection of changes and timely interventions. This study aims to discuss the role of nurses in monitoring child growth and development within the scope of Primary Health Care. Materials and Methods: This is an integrative literature review, carried out by searching the Virtual Health Library, in the second half of 2024, using the descriptors: “Growth”, “Child Development”, “Nursing” and “Primary Care” interconnected by the Boolean operator AND. Results: A total of 95 articles were identified, of which 9 studies were analyzed, mostly qualitative, published between 2015 and 2024, with a predominance of Brazilian authors. Discussion: The analysis showed that nurses play a central role in childcare consultations, promoting child growth and development. However, they face challenges such as low adherence by caregivers, work overload, inadequate structure and other problems that compromise the quality of care. Conclusion: It is concluded that investments in infrastructure, professional training and strengthening of public policies are necessary, as well as new research that further qualifies child care in Primary Health Care. Keywords: Primary Care; Growth; Child Development; Nursing.