Exercise of Leadership by Nurse Leaders of a Class Entity from 1926 to 1974.

Background: The exercise of Nursing leadership begins with an understanding that leading means keeping the team members united in the quest for the accomplishment of professional goals. In the pioneer class entity for the representation of Brazilian Nursing – the Brazilian Association of Nursing (ABEn) – the advancement of the professional class was directly linked to the efforts of its leaders. Objectives: To describe the exercise of leadership by nurse leaders of the ABEn. Methodology: Documentary historical study, with a qualitative approach, on the leadership of the nurse leaders of the ABEn from 1926 to 1974. The primary sources were scientific publications of Brazilian journals, as well as case studies, biographies and obituaries of the nursing leaders. Results: The analysis of the lives of these nurses allowed us to build the following outcome categories: preparation for leadership, ideological positioning of the leaders, exercise of leadership, and professional recognition of the leaders. Conclusion: We conclude that the leaders had political power and working capacity. They were role models of dedication and firmness of conviction, with great capacity for coordination and political power. They did great things for nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]