The history of the Brazilian Nursing Association (ABEn) is very similar to the history of modern nursing in Brazil. Both were bow in the riventies. This resume tries te synthesize the most important achievements of the ABEn: publication of the Brazilian Nursing Review, attainment of laws bounded to regulate teaching an nursing practice, promotion of annual congresses, edition of books and bulletins on nursing subjects in general, promotion of intellectual and profissional development of nurses, technicians and auxiliary nurses through educational activities, and elaboration of surveys in the field of teaching and nursing practice, principally