ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the experiences of Nursing students during the mandatory hospital internship at a Material and Sterilization Center with a focus on leadership development. Method: This is an experience report of a mandatory hospital curricular internship anchored in the national curricular guidelines for Nursing, of a descriptive-reflective nature, and carried out in a general university hospital in southern Brazil, from March to June 2019. Results: Activities were developed in order to develop leadership aspects such as people, orthotics and prosthetics management, surgical planning, conflict management, and assertive communication. Final considerations: The mandatory hospital curricular internship at the Material and Sterilization Center favored the students in the leadership process, management, decision-making, and development of autonomy for leading nurses.