Objective:: summarize the dissertations and theses produced by nurses available in the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations of the Brazilian Nursing Association, from volume XIX to XXXII, that address patient safety.
Method:: this is a documentary study. After data collection, the following variables were analyzed: academic level, educational institutions, year, place, type of service, study object, study method, subjects, priority protocol of patient safety, implications and final recommendations.
Results:: 8,720 abstracts were found, 53 (0.61%) of which were analyzed. There was a predominance of dissertations (n=19; 35.85%) regarding the reduction of risks for fall and pressure ulcer (n=24; 45.28%), of descriptive type (n=21; 39.62%), quantitative type (n=16; 30.19%), in hospital environments (n=16; 30.19%), using scales and protocols (n=6; 11.32%).
Conclusion:: there is a tendency towards the development of studies related to patient safety in hospital environments, with an emphasis on the reduction of risk for pressure ulcer.