[Environmental education for nursing faculty members: perception and relation to nurse training]

to describe the perception of nursing teachers on environmental education and its relation to the professional training received by nurses.

exploratory-descriptive, qualitative study performed with 17 nurses working in Undergraduate Nursing courses at Federal Institutions of Higher Education of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were collected between January and April 2013, through semi-structured interviews and the analysis of pedagogical projects. Content analysis framework was used for data analysis.

the following categories emerged: multiplicity of perceptions about environmental education, where environmental education, although still perceived through a naturalist bias, also includes a well rounded vision for socio-cultural context and human values; and environmental education in in the nursing education program, showing an incipient approach in vocational training, while recognizing its importance in nursing care.

Environmental education must be fostered with the goal of providing training committed to environmental sustainability.