[Brazilian congresses -- bridges to freedom and nursing transformation]

This study concerns the comprehension of the converging points in Brazilian Nursing Congresses as well as of their contribution to the production of nursing knowledge. The investigation method used was that of historical research with a documental analysis of the Proceedings of Brazilian Nursing Congresses from 1977 to 1987. The main converging points appearing in the lecturers' speeches refer to: higher and secondary education; nursing care; healthcare policies; the image of nurses and its transformation over the years.