ABSTRACT This text analyzes the article "Curricular Guidelines and Pedagogical Projects", an object for discussion in this REBEn's (Brazilian Review of Nursing) section. The authors expose their opinion as to the complexity of this theme and highlight two points coming out of this debate - the issue of the reproduction - problematization opposition in respect to curricular reform, and the content of curricular projects aiming at changes in nurse education. The author concentrates her analysis on the curricular guidelines and changes, beyond the text, by highlighting the great importance of national policies of investment to guarantee favorable conditions for the necessary curricular changes. She parallels the educational to the health sector in order to assess the creation of curricular guidelines, and outlines strategies for their implementation. She stresses the notion of competencies as possibilities to give rise to a new kind of worker, by strengthening the issue of social responsibilty placed upon education for the constitution of citizens. The importance placed on educators qualification is discussed when talking about competencies development, besides the investment on a new professional ethics, as well as our difficulty for going beyond preestablished notions, in such a way that favorable strategies are generated for developing self-criticism and professional responsibility.
national curricular guidelines; nursing curricula; nursing education