This article is a reflection about the form of Brazilian nursing professional organization, highlighting the limits of the current model and the challenges for the future. It is based on the authors' analysis of an important social movement of Brazilian Nursing, the "Participation Movement" that took place from 1980 to 1990. This Movement has promoted a reflection about nursing work and organization and about nursing participation in the country's re-democratization, as well as defending the right to health. This article summarizes some gains obtained by the movement, especially in the Brazilian Nursing Association - ABEn, and limits in the discussion about the professional organization. It highlights the need to establish agreements and to include in the "Nursing Political Professional Project" the importance of building a unifying organization originating from ABEn.
Nursing; Societies, nursing; Social organization