Description study of the scientific production of the faculty and specialization students of the Federal University ofthe State of Rio Grande do Norte from 1974 to 1992. The objective was to organize the knowledge produced and identify the research teams. A total of 159 faculty works and 27 student monographs were classified according to its theme and the CNPq/ABEn research priorities. It was found that there is a strong tendency for research in three areas: human resources in nursing, fundamentals of nursing care, and nursing as a social institution. The results are being used to orient the planning of the graduate program presently being conducted.