The History of Spanish Nursing (1953-1980): Introductory Notes

Abstract

A historical-social documentary study aiming to analyze the history of Nursing in Spain, in the period 1953 - 1980. Undertaken between September and December 2014 through consultations with archive services, newspapers, legislation, specialized journals and academic works. This historical period corresponds to the unification of the teaching of practitioners, midwives and nurses (1953) and to the approval of the standards of the title of Sanitary Technical Assistant with Diploma in Nursing (1980). Thematic analysis was used for understanding the meanings and thus to (re-)construct part of this history. The empirical material revealed that the Real Escuela de Enfermeras de Santa Isabel de Hungria is considered the pioneer within the anglo-saxon model, that Spanish Nursing results from the fusion of three professions (practitioners, midwives and nurses) and training separated by sex was striking. Finally, it is concluded that the trajectory of Spanish Nursing towards the level of a graduate profession was long and arduous.