This is a socio-historical study aimed to historicize the career of Eloita Pereira Neves, present some features of her biography, and analyze her contribution to nursing at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data were collected through consulting documentary and complementary sources. The data were organized according to content analysis. The results showed that Professor Eloita had significant participation in the health service hospital site and the Brazilian Nursing Association - Section Santa Catarina, including holding key positions in the latter, which resulted among others in creating the first undergraduate Nursing course in Santa Catarina. Her professional education and active participation contributed so that significant changes occurred in nursing in the state of Santa Catarina, creating the first undergraduate course at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, now recognized for its teaching, research, and outreach on state, national, and international levels.
Education; Biography; Nursing education; Nursing History