[Nurse's image: review of the literature]

The society's image about the nurses is permeated of stereotypes that include figures like saints, prostitutes, witches, heroines and are related to the function of assisting doctors and to a lack of social life. Moreover, the image that the nurses have of themselves and of their work is negative, causing frustration for the lack of autonomy found on the professional reality. Seeking for a better understanding of this problem, a literature review was proceeded, aiming to characterize and analyze the nurse's image. The national scientific production is considered small on the subject. Conclusions indicate that stereotypes negatively influence nursing practice and that in Nursing history it is found many reasons for the existing distortions.