In an attempt to think over the administrative practice of nurses in the network of health services we undertake a historical analysis of it and discover the pattern of factors that came to determine the present situation. By considering the technical division of the nursing work, the salaried work force, the network of health services and the prevailing economic system we find out objetive space for the administrative practice of nurses. The questions of cost versus quality and of profit versus efficiency make us perceive participative management as one of most meaningful theories in the search of greater efficiency and productivity.