The objective of the present article is to reveal the work done by the Brazilian Association of Nursing (ABEn) in the federal state of Rio de Janeiro along its fifty-five years of history. It describes the foundation of the main office and regional branches, the acquisition of the building for the headquarters, the promotion of events, awards offered, achievements and other interesting facts that constitute the history of this association. The study also brings the names of the presidents and vicepresidents from 1963 until the present days. It finalizes with the event of the assassination of the president of the association and his wife, in 1999.
association; nursing; history of nursing; syndicates