This descriptive study identified the profile and competencies of nurse managers of accredited hospitals from the their perspective and that of their hierarchical superiors. It was conducted in 14 hospitals certified by the National Organization of Accreditation and the Joint Commission International in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Data were collected through two questionnaires that were applied to 24 professionals. The nurse managers' profiles showed that 69.2% came from private colleges, all with more than 10 years experience since graduation and 92.3% had attended a post-degree program in health management. The nurse managers' most frequent competencies according to their superiors were: leadership, focus on patients, and teamwork. The conclusion is that the profile and competencies of most of the nurse managers were compatible with the expectations of their superiors, who collaborate in the selection of candidates for the nurse manager position and evaluate their professional performance.
Nursing; Professional Competence; Management; Accreditation
