This study aimed at discussing the circumstances that determined the inclusion of the nursing auxiliary training in Law nº 775/49. To that end, an attempt was made at understanding the Brazilian scenario and the hospital-centered politicies that were consolidated during President Dutra's government as well as hospital conditions exisiting at that time. Laws and decrees on nursing dated 1945 to 1949, documents from the CD/EEAN/UFRJ and nurses' accounts concerning this issue were primary sources. The first documents analyzed showed a shortage in nursing staff and the conflict between nurses' wish to maintain a high educational level and the responsibility to supply the country's demand. The Law officialized a course that already existed informally, thus responding to the external and internal pressure exerted by that professional category. There is an expectation that this work will contribute to the understanding of this issue in the field of nursing and its influence on the opening of nursing auxiliary curses in the Brazilian states.
nursing; nursing teaching; nursing legislation