RESUMO
AIM: The aim of the study was to describe the process of developing a Professional Practice Model by a Nursing School and Nursing Department of University Hospital. DESIGN AND METHOD (S): This is a descriptive nursing methodology research, developed along three stages: preliminary, empirical and validation. The empirical phase used qualitative and quantitative methodology. 28 teachers from the nursing school and nurses from the hospital participated. We defined the elements of the nursing meta-paradigm from narratives and focus group. Then, we extracted propositions regarding the nature of nursing from the relationship between the meta-paradigm elements, which concluded in the core elements. RESULTS: The core elements of this nursing professional practice model are nursing seeks the well-being of the person, family or group; nursing is total and global, person-centred; nursing is compassionate; nursing entails up-to-date, quality scientific, technical and human competencies; nursing is delivered in a teaching hospital environment, with a Christian ethical perspective.