Abstract

QUEIROS, Paulo Joaquim Pina et al. Nursing care and nurses' good service in 1821-1822. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2018, vol.serIV, n.16, pp.95-106. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV17064.

Background: The first elected chamber of representatives of the Portuguese nation started operating after the 1820 Liberal Revolution. Although historically distant from nursing professionalization, education, regulation, and control, several references were made to nurses in this chamber. Objectives: To analyze the discussions about nurses and nursing in the Sovereign Congress in 1821-22. Methodology: An historical search was conducted in the daily session records, followed by the collection, analysis, and interpretation of sources. Results: Five themes were identified: the figure of enfermeiro-mor; the Proposal for a General Public Health Regulation; references to nurses; the presence of midwives and bleeders; and the organization of nursing wards and hospitals. Conclusion: No explicit reference was made to nursing, only to nurses. The definitions of enfermeiro-mor and nurse differed. Bleeders were frequently mentioned, as well as the structured organization of midwives. Nurses appeared as caregivers in hospitals and at home, in a different category of other care delivery activities; however, nursing was still far from professionalization. Finally, there were references to issues related to hygiene, safety, qualifications, and care organization.

Keywords : history; nursing; history of nursing.

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