Objetvo: conhecer o perfl do enfermeiro gerente hospitalar conforme os aspectos sociodemografcos e de formacao profssional, identfcando os desafos enfrentados. Metodo: estudo descritvo, quantqualitatvo, realizado em junho de 2014 em um hospital publico de ensino do interior paulista, no qual partciparam 15 enfermeiros gerentes. Foram utlizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com analise tematca dos dados, a qual gerou as categorias: Capacitacao para as atribuicoes de gerente de enfermagem; Tornar-se um enfermeiro gerente e Desafos para a gerencia em enfermagem. Resultados: o trabalho na gerencia apresenta desafos, tais como: exercer funcoes interligadas a outras areas e departamentos, aproximar-se de questoes administratvas e gerenciar confitos. Conclusao: gestores das insttuicoes hospitalares devem investr na capacitacao dos seus recursos humanos, considerando o contexto socio politco economico e de saude vigentes. ABSTRACT Objectve: to ascertain the profle of hospital nurse managers by socio-demographic features and professional training, and to identfy the challenges faced. Method: this quanttatve and qualitatve descriptve study was conducted in June 2014 at a public teaching hospital in Sao Paulo State. Partcipants were 15 nurse managers. Data from semi-structured interviews were subjected to thematc analysis, which produced the categories: Training for nurse manager dutes; Becoming a nurse manager; and Challenges for manage- ment in nursing. Results: the challenges posed by working in management include performing functons interconnected with other areas and departments; gaining familiarity with administratve maters; and managing conficts. Conclusion: hospital managers must invest in training their human resources, considering the reigning social, politcal, economic and health context.