[Nursing doctoral theses produced on graduate programs between 1983-2001].

This study describes the relationship between nursing doctoral dissertations and research lines defined by the Brazilian Nursing field in three areas: professional, care and organizational. It isa descriptive-exploratory research, based on reports of Graduate Programs evaluated by CAPES and on The Informative Guide of Nursing Research and Researchers CEPEn/ ABEn, from 1983 to 2001, totalling 448 abstracts. The care field includes the greatest production, followed by the organizational and professional areas. The studies disclose tendency towards the qualitative approach revealing possibilities for a more profound knowledge about reality or a more through understanding of social phenomena related to nursing practice. On the other hand, studies on interventions in professional practice and technological development are still under construction.