Nursing in Latin America is facing a number of serious challanges significantly effecting contributions its personnel con make to the health of the people they serve. This article presents an overview of nursing as an important component of the health system in Latin America through the prospective and orientation provided by strategic planning. The author, following an analysis of the nursing in the Region, identifies several problems and then creates a vision for the future. The article looks at the possibilities of developing and implementing projects and action plans to address the priority problems. It sees strategic thinking as a possible means for nursing to reflect on and maximize its contribution and presence in the solution of the health problems in the current decade and into the next century.