The purpose of this article is to describe nursing in the Brazilian health system and to analyze the characteristics of nursing personnel in Brazil. This description includes types of health institutions, services rendered, and the distribution of nursing personnel by professional categories in 1956, 1982, and 1995. Discussion of the challenges facing Brazilian nurses is presented using data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Federal Nursing Board (COFEn), Regional Nursing Board (COREn), and the Brazilian Nursing Association (ABEn). An increase in the number of outpatient units and in diagnostic and therapeutic examinations has led to an increased the demand for nurses. Public health nurses participate in planning, management, sanitary education, health promotion, and supervision of nursing care provided by nursing technicians, assistants, and other helpers.