This is a bibliographic research, with quantitative approach, that aimed to know the scientific production of theses and dissertations available in the database of the Center of Studies and Research in Nursing (CEPEn) and its applicability in the nursing area in nephrology. It was found 48 abstracts of theses and dissertations in the period from 1979 to 2007. The results point that these productions are concentrated in the Southeast and Southern regions of Brazil. Regarding the theoretical-methodological referential, the most frequent were: nursing assistance method and comprehensive approach; the investigated individuals were mostly the chronic renal patients. This thematic is still little investigated in the post-graduation stricto senso courses, however there are signs of expansion of the scientific studies in this area.
Knowledge; Nursing research; Renal dialysis; Renal insufficiency, chronic
