This is a qualitative research whose objective was to understand and gain knowledge on the images and the social imaginary that permeates the professional choice of brazilian and peruvian nurses. The study was carried out with twenty nurses, in 2003 and used the Michel Maffesoli's Social Imaginary theoretical framework. In the analysis, the following categories were created: servile image; vocational image and professional image. Those categories have a great influence on their choice to become a Nurse. When contemplating on the images and the imaginary that permeate their professional choice, it can be noticed that most nurses choose nursing due to a personal aspiration to help and care for people, and not beacuse of any family orientation. Finally, in this exploration through the latin imaginal world, it was possible to infer that the choice to become a nurse reflects the archetypes and myths historically built, made known and crystallized in the social imaginary, and the conjunction of some characteristics that compose the nurse's professional Identity.
History of Nursing; Nursing; Self Concept