O propósito do trabalho é discutir as possibilidades e limitações do desenvolvimento de linhas de pesquisa, que favoreçam a construção de versões e interpretações originais da história da enfermagem de âmbito nacional e de estudos comparados internacionais. São analisadas as conseqüências teóricas e práticas da localização da enfermagem moderna na história contemporânea ou na história do tempo presente, bem como no contexto da América Latina. Tomando-se a organização de arquivos como condição para a realização de estudos históricos, são citados exemplos de acervos no que se refere à História da Enfermagem Brasileira e é enfatizada a importância da recuperação e preservação de fontes (escritas, orais e iconográficas), tanto dos arquivos históricos como dos "arquivos futuros ". Finalmente, discutem-se as relações internas e externas da história da enfermagem, como campo de conhecimento, e suas implicações para a visibilidade e o reconhecimento de sua contribuição com um novo olhar sobre nossa trajetória e o cotidiano presente.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibilities and the limitations of research lines development, that benefit the construction of versions and original interpretations of national scope and international compared studies about the History of Nursing. Theoretical and practical consequences of the placement of modern nursing in contemporary History or present time History, as well as in Latin America's context are analyzed. Considering the organization of files as a condition for the accomplishment of historical studies, heritage examples referring to the Brazilian History of Nursing are mentioned and the importance of the recovery and the preservation of both historical and "future " file sources (written, oral and iconographie) emphasized. Finally, the internal and external relations of the History of nursing as a knowledge field and their implications for the visibility and recognition of its contribution for a new look on our trajectory and current quotidian.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibilities and the limitations of research lines development, that benefit the construction of versions and original interpretations of national scope and international compared studies about the History of Nursing. Theoretical and practical consequences of the placement of modern nursing in contemporary History or present time History, as well as in Latin America's context are analyzed. Considering the organization of files as a condition for the accomplishment of historical studies, heritage examples referring to the Brazilian History of Nursing are mentioned and the importance of the recovery and the preservation of both historical and "future " file sources (written, oral and iconographie) emphasized. Finally, the internal and external relations of the History of nursing as a knowledge field and their implications for the visibility and recognition of its contribution for a new look on our trajectory and current quotidian.