This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study that aimed to describe nurses'perceptions on the autonomy they hold in the practice they work in. Ten nurses working in the hospital or primary care centers participated in the study. A semistructured interview was used to gather data. The data were analyzed using content analysis, which led to three thematic areas: nursing education, nursing work processes and interpersonal relations. The study highlights the importance that nurses and their personal stories have in organizing and directing nursing work processes, especially decision-making in a responsible autonomous action.