Abstract
Objective: to highlight in the scientific literature the contribution of the nursing audit to the improvement of the quality of care provided to the patient and to the role of the nurse, identifying such a cut in the national production. Methods: This is an integrative review of studies published around the theme. We analyzed 12 articles published between 2006 and 2013, in the Virtual Health Library databases. Results: The data collection demonstrated the relevance of the nursing audit for the implementation of quality care. This contribution may occur in the detection of new and old problems, pointing out alternatives of corrections or preventions, in the implementation of mechanisms for evaluation and control of the technical quality of care and through the creation of a routine of care according to established protocols. Conclusion: It was verified that the audit is an essential function to measure the quality of the nursing care, providing subsidies to the professionals to orient their activities, impelling the collective or individual reflection and directing the process of permanent education.