Since the beginning of humanity, the figure of the caregiver has been present in all areas of history. Since the first human groups where there have always been people incapable of taking care of themselves, they already received care typical of this job from other members of the tribe, mainly women, who were mainly dedicated to caring for children and collecting. .
As time went by, the role of the caregiver was relegated to the lower classes, while medicine was reserved for the upper classes. Thus, the care of the sick in ancient Rome was carried out by slaves or servants and, although both men and women carried out this care, they were also the ones who had the most prestige and recognition due to their dedication and participation in the childbirth and newborn care.
With the arrival of Christianity, the role of the caregiver continued to be carried out by the lower classes and was mainly intended to care for the socially marginalized (prisoners, patients with leprosy or plague, handicapped), and more than ever it was a task reserved for the woman, who, by taking care of the home and children, lived in relationships with other women who had knowledge on the subject and who transmitted it to each other.
From a scientific point of view, the study of the origins of Nursing as a recognized profession is divided into two stages: the first, which covers from the first existing cultures to the 19th century, tells us about the nurse understood as the person who provides care to a sick person or person unable to take care of themselves. Few details are known about this stage since there are practically no sources or written testimonies and, therefore, knowledge of the trade was acquired through oral transmission and practical learning. Towards the end of this first stage, the first short writings associated with Nursing appear, which have their origin in the monastic world, the cradle of culture and the first writers. The church’s interest and concern for the sick and the socially marginalized is based on the Christian values of charity, equality and helping the homeless. Furthermore, it was the only institution with these values that had sufficient resources to create hospitals and nursing homes.
The second stage of Nursing began in the 19th century with the reflections of intellectuals on the tasks performed by those people known as caregivers. The first known manual of Nursing as a discipline dates back to 1617 and includes a series of instructions for nurses describing techniques and procedures for practicing on patients.
NURSING MANUAL PUBLISHED IN MADRID IN 1617 BY THE CONGREGATION OF THE OBREGONES BROTHERS
Thus, the theoretical teachings of this discipline begin to flourish and an institutionalization as a profession gradually takes place. Despite these first manuals, the first reference who managed to position Nursing as an essential profession in society was Florence Nightingale, one of the first caregivers who wrote about her work, referring to it as “nurse’s tasks” and, therefore, She is considered the mother of modern Nursing. Of high social origin, her religious beliefs led her to reject the role to which she was destined as an upper-class woman and dedicate herself to the care of wounded soldiers. In 1860 she laid the foundations of professional nursing and established her own nursing school in London called Saint Thomas Hospital that still operates today.
Currently, Nursing is one of the most recognized professions in our society due to the dedication and vocation associated with it. It is no longer just about practical care but there is an entire theoretical body that supports essential knowledge for the care of the sick.
Key dates of our profession:
- 1960: Publication of the decree on professional competence of the Nursing function in Spain. Nursing staff must be registered in their Professional Association and their actions are carried out under the direction of the doctor.
- 1966: The WHO defines the role of Nursing and expresses the capacity of professionals to assume responsibility for the Nursing services required by the promotion of health, the prevention of disease and the provision of care to the sick.
- 1970: Publication of the General Education Law, which lays the foundations for university Nursing.
- 1977: Publication of Royal Decree 2128/1977 of July 23 that integrates the Schools of Health Technical Assistants (ATS) as University Schools of Nursing. Substitution of the ATS title for the DUE (University Diploma in Nursing). The first promotion is that of 1977-1980.
- 1978: Approval of the Statutes of the Collegiate Nursing Organization.
- 1980: Process of academic validation of the ATS degree for the Diploma in Nursing through a course.
- 1984: Nursing professionals are allowed to occupy positions as full professors in University Schools.
- 1987: Creation of the specialties of Obstetric Nursing – Gynecological, Pediatric, Mental Health, Community Health, Special Care, Geriatrics, Nursing Management and Administration.
- 1999: Bologna Declaration. The European Higher Education space is created, which eliminates Diplomas and unifies higher education into Degree degrees.
- 2005: Publication of the Royal Decree on Nursing Specialties. The specialties of Obstetric – Gynecological Nursing (Midwife), Mental Health, Geriatrics, Work, Cures, Medical Surgical, Pediatrics and Family and Community Nursing are established.
- 2013: First Class of Nursing Graduates.
- 2016: Rosa Maria Alberdi becomes the first Spanish nurse to be awarded Honoris Causa by the University of Murcia.