This is a qualitative study, using a socio-historical approach. Its objective is to place into a historical perspective the trajectory of the Nursing Graduate Program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, from the historical perspective of its coordinators. In order to so, structured interviews were carried out with six of the coordinators who served in the Program. The data found express three categories of analysis: 1) the creation of the course and the challenge of the pioneers; 2) the return of the Master's Course and advances; 3) the Doctorate and the consagration of the Program, its contribution to the national and international scene. This study made it possible to get to know more about the creation of the Program, the advances made, the challenges faced, the participation of the financial organs, the scientific production of the faculty and the students, as well as the contributions of the Course in the national and international arenas. We conclude that the program has expressly contributed towards the development of knowledge in nursing and health care, in the qualification and professional preparation of faculty and researchers, as well as contributed to the improvement of the nursing practice in Brazil and abroad.
Nursing; History of nursing; Graduate nursing education