This article is based on the authors' reflections from following the successive accumulations of the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS). We present our evaluation of the SUS, emphasizing what we consider to be the utmost progresses, recognizing the need to reaffirm a present agenda of political and social commitments for the System. We defend that Brazilian nursing, with the processes of professionalizing its workers, is a strong partner of the SUS.
Nursing; Public health nursing; Unified Health System; Health personnel