[Reflections on a controversial topic: nursing ethics]

The present study does a reflection on the ethics in nursing, considering the context in which it is introduced. The authors approaches it in a broad manner and its historic evolution, going through a discussion inside the health care area, until the nursing related questions emerged, establishing relations between them. The questions and the doubts, much more than answers, are the focus of this study, whose main concern is to contribute to nurse's critical thought necessary to the effective practice of the profession.