This study aimed at verifying the institutions where pregnant, parturient and puerperal women were given care. It also aimed at identifying the nurses who participate in such caregiving, the activities performed and the problems faced by them and their level of satisfaction at work. Seventy-four nurses were interviewed in the 35 institutions found in Sorocaba, of whom 27% were specialists and 28% were qualified obstetricians. The others had not been trained in that area. The major problems reported were the lack of skills to perform prenatal nursing consultations, shortage of staff and materials and the accumulation of. Seventy-three percent of the interviewees reported to be satisfied in relation to their jobs.