Material world and social recognition: Nursing care in Spain

• Published in: Investigación y educación en enfermería 2015, Vol.33 (1), p.128-137
• Main Authors: Arredondo-Gonzalez, Claudia Patricia, De la Cuesta-Benjumea, Carmen, Avila-Olivares, Jose Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: ambiente de trabajo; deseabilidad social; historia de la enfermería
• ISSN: 0120-5307
• DOI: 10.17533/udea.iee.v33n1a15

Objective. This study sought to recognize the active and symbolic role played by the objects from the material world for nursing care in Spain between 1855 and 1955. Methodology. This was a historical study using grounded theory procedures. The information sources were eight handbooks for the training of caring professionals published in Spain, during the period of interest. The information was gathered from March 2012 to June 2013. During this period, the sources were fully revised and index cards with bibliographic information, description of instruments, and analysis were elaborated; methodological and analytic memoranda were written. Forty-five procedures and 360 material objects were registered. Results. The categories "principal and secondary objects" and "guarded objects" reveal the influence exerted by the objects from the material world for care. Conclusion. In Spain, between 1855 and 1955, nursing care was carried out within a scenario comprised of objects with secondary status and situated within the periphery of care, as well as by guarded objects that professionals could not use. This material world influenced the social recognition of professional caregivers at the time and the visibility of their work. Key words: history of nursing; working environment; social desirability. Objetivo. Reconocer el papel activo y simbolico que jugaron los objetos del mundo material para los cuidados de enfermeria en Espana entre 1855 y 1955. Metodologia. Estudio historico que utiliza procedimientos de la teoria fundamentada. Las fuentes de informacion fueron ocho manuales para la formacion de los profesionales de los cuidados publicados en Espana, en la epoca de interes. La recoleccion de la informacion se realizo desde marzo de 2012 hasta junio de 2013. En este periodo, se revisaron integramente las fuentes y se realizaron fichas con informacion bibliografica, de descripcion de instrumentos y de analisis. A su vez, se escribieron memorandos metodologicos y analiticos. Se registraron 45 procedimientos y 360 objetos materiales. Resultados. Las categorias "objetos principales y secundarios" y "objetos custodiados" revelan la influencia que ejercian los objetos del mundo material para los cuidados. Conclusion. En Espana entre 1855 y 1955, los cuidados de enfermeria se daban en un escenario conformado especialmente por objetos con estatus secundario y situados en la periferia de los cuidados, como tambien por los objetos custodiados que los profesionales no podian