Absenteeism in nursing staff is a matter of great concern. It interferes with client care, overwhelms other staff members and can cause serious diseases. The purpose of this study is to analyze the national scientific production and abstracts of articles published from 2003 to 2008, that cover the theme of absenteeism among nursing professionals. We carried out an online search in four databases: LILACS, SciELO, BDENF and CAPES Portal. Two themes emerged by the end of the analysis: (1) Diseases that generate absenteeism among nursing professionals and (2) strategies designed to reduce absenteeism. We concluded that nurses are affected by a number of health problems, and this is one of the causes of their absenteeism. Staff dimensioning and formulation of preventive actions are highlighted as strategies to improve working conditions and reduce absenteeism.