[Seventieth anniversary of the Brazilian Nursing Association]

The celebration of the Brazilian Nursing Association seventieth anniversary, former Brazilian Graduated Nurses Association, represents, in fact, seventy years of the history of Nursing in Brazil. We have certified, in a historical retrospective that the entity's creation, its organization which has been through several changes, adapting itself to the demands imposed by the conjunctures; the cultural landmarks, where the Brazilian Nursing Magazine, Brazilian Nursing Week, National Seminar of Research in Nursing, the Nursing Regional Meetings and the Brazilian Congress of Nursing are highlighted and are a demonstration of power and guts of this entity that survives from the struggle, conquests and achievements for the category. We also highlight the political advance these last two decades for the political and structural organization, the more democratic decisory process both internal and externally (ABEn's National Council); an autonomous social and political expression while civil society, better relationship with other national and international entities. Finally, we relate the challenges which appear to the entity's present management.