In this work, we show how nonlinear pointcoupling models, described by a Lagrangian density containing only terms up to fourth order in the fermion condensate (ψψ), are derived from a modified mesonexchange nonlinear Walecka model. We present two methods of derivation, namely the hypermassive meson limit within a functional integral approach and the mean-field approximation, in which equations of state at zero temperature of the nonlinear point-coupling models are directly obtained.