[The Association de recherche en soins infirmiers: a story of combination of circumstances, a strong axis and encounters].

Research in Nursing has grown significantly in France. The usefulness and necessity of scientific research, to provide quality care, and its role in the professionalization are now accepted. The Nursing Research Association (Arsi) is a key player contributing for over thirty years to the development and recognition of research as a means to develop and acquire knowledge, and to base care on Scientifics data. Established in 1983 Arsi is a combination of circumstances of history, a major focus, objectives and encounters with people who identified the interest of research in nursing and supported the associations initiatives. Its characteristic is to have been able to balance cares 'need, research, and to put itself in a prospective dimension. Today, the association is recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of its work and its contribution to the development of research and nursing sciences. This recognition is the result of a continous and demanding work of many volunteers committed to support the objectives of the association.