Artículo de publicación SCIELOResearch to assess the role or to describe the functions of the health personnel from the perspective of the patients is not common in the health area; however, its study allows a valid feedback in defining both a professional profile and setting targets. The objective of this investigation was to describe the most important dimensions that external users consider when defining “socially and subjectively” the professional nutritionist. This was a phenomenological qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 28 users of Conception health centers. The sample was qualitative and operates through saturation point, semantic analysis was structural. As a result we obtained the description of the role of the nutritionist classified in the dimensions in which patients recognize the work, confirming some of its functions and discovering the importance of other ancillary and secondary consideration. Key words: perception, nutritionists, primary care.