The present study is a descriptive and exploratory research which has as its objective accomplishing a critical analysis of the magazine "Texto e Contexto-Enfermagem" (Nursing--Text and Context), as a thematic option. Eighteen issues of the magazine, published between 1992 and 2000, were analyzed. Two instruments were used to evaluate the inter-relation of the themes with the lines of research of the Post Graduation Program of Nursing in the Federal University of Santa Catarina (PEN/UFSC) in Brazil; the type of articles published; and the origin and profile of the authors of the magazine. It was verified that: the themes in the magazine are linked to the lines of research of PEN/UFSC; the average of articles published per issue is 23.88%; the majority of the articles are reflections and researches; most of the authors have a masters or doctors degree and do not teach at UFSC; and the rejection rate of the articles was 11.86%. The magazine bears most of the essential and complementary criteria established by CAPES and has great acceptance of among the Brazilian scientific community, since it brought a new dimension to the health care publications.