[The nursing audit: its introduction and development in the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo]

The study reports an experience carried out by the Departamento de Assistência de Enfermagem do Hospital Universitário da USP, the implantation and development of the retrospective auditory process for the evaluation of their activities as an instrument for control and maintenance of the quality of nursing care given the community. It describes the various steps, instruments and reports used, as well as the use of the auditory's findings for reviewing the assistential and educational programs developed by the department.