This study aimed to investigate nurses' perception of the process of the teaching-learning of leadership during the undergraduate nursing course. The research, with a qualitative approach and of the descriptive type, adopted the case study as its investigative strategy. 25 nurses working in three general hospitals in the city of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, participated in the study. The information was collected between May and December of 2010. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken for the data collection. The data was analyzed using Minayo's operative proposal. The main results show that the pedagogical practices adopted by the lecturers resemble the characteristics of the banking concept of education, mentioned by Paulo Freire. Adherence to transversal teaching of leadership, and continuous education, are strategies which facilitate the training of nurse-leaders. It is relevant to rethink the process of the teaching-learning of leadership, so as to contribute to the development of this professional competence.
Nursing; Leadership; Education, nursing