The present work is a study of social-historical nature. It has as its objective understanding the participation of Sister Mathilde Nina, as a representative of the Companhia das Filhas da Caridade (Daughters of Charity Company), in the history of the Brazilian Association of Nursing (ABEn). It discusses the association of this sister to ABEn as a way of spreading the catholic ideology. The study covers a period of time between 1939 and 1950. The primary data was collected through written documents and reports of people who were close to Mathilde Nina. The dialectic method was adopted and the discussion of the findings is based on Pierre Bourdieu's thoughts. As a consequence of the edict 20.109/31, the Sisters of Charity made their insertion in the formal education in Brazil. As the first representative of the Company to graduate, sister Nina could perform in different instances of the nursing profession. Her participation in ABEn was a way of spreading the catholic ideology in nursing.
the history of nursing; education of nursing; ABEn; religious education