Abstract
The present study is a literature review, based especially on Costa Aguiar, Soares and Silva (2009), Taube, Zagonel and Meier (2005) and Santos (2018), among other scholars on the subject. The objective is to demonstrate the importance of the nurse's performance in the central of materials and sterilization - CME. It is asked: How can the nurse's work assist in the materials and sterilization center? The history of the Material and Sterilization Center is presented, with all its functionalities and materials, from reception to final storage. The role of the nursing professional is pointed out. It is clarified that the nurse has the function of managing the entire process, being responsible for planning and executing all the steps, so there is a need for professionals committed to their activities and who always seek to update themselves in the field.
