Discovering the ethos of serving in nursing leadership from the first half of the 20th century in three Nordic countries – an idea‐historical research approach

Abstract

The history of ideas may contribute to an awareness and an opening up of deep-seated currents of thought that have shaped the inner core of the caring culture and an ethical value base - the ethos of serving in nursing leadership. This article studies how serving as an ethos is represented, which becomes visible and evident in Sophie Mannerheim's, Bertha Wellin's and Bergljot Larsson's nursing leadership. This article also seeks to describe the main features of the idea-historical research approach the way in which it is represented within the caring science-tradition. An idea-historical methodological approach informed by Gadamer's philosophy was used for the hermeneutical interpretation within a caring science perspective. Primary and secondary historical sources were explored in the light of nursing praxis and serving. Three general idea patterns were discovered: the innermost room of the heart as the idea of serving, the action of the hand as acts of love and a cultivation of the head towards nursing leadership. These ideas open for a new vision that can bring out new patterns for action in the present and in the nursing leadership of the future.

The theory of caritative caring: Katie Eriksson’s theory of caritative caring presented from a human science point of view

“…(2018), Honkavuo et al. (2018), and Salmela, Koskinen, and Eriksson (2017). Bridging the gap between caring science, leadership and education, Näsman (2018) has also introduced the thought of caritative leadership into educational leadership.…”

“…In these articles, Eriksson's ideas of ethics, caring and suffering are highlighted in various clinical contexts. The most recent studies published with Eriksson as a co‐author are about nursing leadership (Foss, Eriksson, & Nåden, 2018; Honkavuo, Eriksson, & Nåden, 2018), ethos (Hilli & Eriksson, 2019; Östman, Näsman, Eriksson, & Nyström, 2019) and claritas (Nåden, Bergbom, Lindström, & Eriksson, 2018).…”

The history of ideas of Nordic midwives’ excursions from the early 19th century to the millennium

“…The game of nature and struggle against the face of death taught them patience, responsiveness, humbleness and respect for life. The leader, the stubborn and unselfish midwife steered the course of the birthgiving with respect and a holy aim – to serve the woman .…”

“…The midwife's work has historically been deeply influenced by prevailing philosophical and religious persuasions, beliefs, prohibitions and dogmatic precepts. From the outset, midwifery was an art cultivated by uneducated married women or widows and housewives – good deeds led to eternal life . Women have independently or within the framework of the church assisted birthgiving women and helped the poor.…”

“…Women have independently or within the framework of the church assisted birthgiving women and helped the poor. The Reformation in the 16th century led to the secularisation of European monasteries, and charity work became a religious duty . Childbirth and religion became intertwined during the Enlightenment, and the latter was emphasised in childbirth.…”