Objective: To analyze health as a right from the perspective of care of the self, in the conception of nursing professionals.
Method: Qualitative study, carried out in a Federal Hospital of the city of Rio de Janeiro, with the participation of 10 nurses and 20 nursing technicians through interviews recorded, transcribed and analyzed in light of the Discursive Textual Analysis.
Results: Two categories emerged: Health as the right of professionals and their "non-right" to health; and Care of the self for the health professional: work and torture.
Conclusion: There are many challenges to overcome, such as the search for satisfactory public funding, the need to improve the quality of Primary Health Care services, the implementation of a care model compatible with the country's demographic and epidemiological situation; all professionals need an effective endorsement for care of the self, such as their knowledge of the right to health.