This study is part of a Master's thesis on the participation of nurses on Health Councils and aims to analyze the perception nurses have of their role in these forums. A qualitative approach is used with a theoretical referential of Discourse Analysis. The subjects are nurses who have been members of Local and Municipal Health Councils in Goiânia, Goiás State, since 1995. The perceptions expressed are related to their concerns about not monopolizing the councils, about councils - especially local ones - being used for party political purposes, about avoiding corporate positions, about council autonomy, lack of infrastructure, political interference, lack of preparation on the part of professionals and the necessity of training for political quality, the contributions that they can make to discussion, reflection, group analysis, interventions and technical support. Hopeful perspectives refer to continued change in order to qualify a greater number of councilors, to the growing emancipation of people for citizenship and to the reliability of present administrations.
health councils; nurses; perception