espanolen la estructuracion en la imagen de la enfermeria incide el prestigio, la credibilidad y la consideracion social, que sin duda son componentes imprescindibles para el avance de la profesion. Objetivo: conocer el imaginario social del rol de enfermeria desde la percepcion de estudiantes de primer semestre en Cartagena. Materiales y Metodos: estudio cualitativo enfoque etnografico con tecnica de analisis de contenido, se emplea para la recoleccion de la informacion una entrevista semiestructurada y se aplica a 28 participantes. El abordaje del tema de investigacion se desarrollo en el medio natural y desde la logica interna del sujeto, igualmente dentro de la tecnica de recoleccion secundaria, se analizaron los textos teniendo en cuenta la semiotica como es la interpretacion de textos y discursos de los participantes. Resultados: una poblacion estudiantil de primer semestre, predomino el sexo femenino y edad promedio oscilo entre 16 y 23 anos. Se evidencia que desde el inicio de la carrera se demarca una falta de interes por estudiar enfermeria como primera opcion, ya que fueron muy pocos participantes que describieron que le gustaba o que les apasiona, el restante que fue en proporcion mayor expresaron escogerla porque no pasaron en la universidad publica, por ser parte de la salud y porque despues se trasladarian a la carrera de medicina. Conclusion: los estudiantes tienen una percepcion negativa con relacion a la imagen del profesional de enfermeria en el ser, en el campo laboral y en su desempeno con otras disciplinas. Englishprestige, credibility and social consideration, which are undoubtedly essential components for the advancement of the profession, have an impact on the structuring of the nursing image.Objective. to know the social imaginary of the nursing role from the perception of the students of the first semester in Cartagena. Methods: qualitative ethnographic study with content analysis technique, a semi-structured interview was used for the collection of information and applied to 28 participants. The approach to the research topic was developed in the natural environment and from the internal logic of the subject, also within the secondary collection technique, the texts were analyzed taking into account semiotics as it is the interpretation of texts and speeches of the participants. Results: A first semester student population, femalesex predominated, and average age ranged between 16 and 23 years old. It is evident that from the beginning of the career there is a lack of interest in studying nursing as a first option, since there were very few participants who described that they liked it or that they were passionate about it, the rest, which was in greater proportion, expressed choosing it because they did not pass in the public university, for being part of health and because later they would move to the career of medicine. Conclusions: Students have a negative perception in relation to the image of the nursing professional in their being, in the workplace and in their performance with other disciplines, which widens the gap between professional and social recognition.