The present article emphasizes the need to highlight the importance of historic nursing research. The purpose of such research is to motivate a permanent challenge that brings to light the roots of Nursing, and to place its theories, models and development within a valid and consistent context with the reality and needs of the medium in which it enfolds. This suggests a search that will lead to knowledge of different institutional formats, identifying solutions to the multiple problems of the nursing task, which requires a consistent and systematic inquiry into history. The implementation of historic investigative processes that project towards the future are proposed, favoring a compilation of information that maintains a sufficient and efficient database, capable of affirming professional duty, supporting its legitimacy and autonomy and adding meaning and dignity to the professional task.
Nursing research; Documentation; History