Historiography of nursing in Spain: the story of a small-great family

Abstract

The main target focuses in the way research of Nursing History allows us today to mention such a simple heading 'Historiography', if we consider the extreme rigour general History demands on analyzing different trends along centuries to deal with knowledge and command of methods and auxiliary sciences. But actions have been taken and we do have confidence that the new Study Programmes and new research possibilities locate History in its real place. We do start from the query What does History mean?. As much the query as historical truth have been following a line along centuries. From Herodote, Tucidide, Tito Livio we are able to follow different critical reviews and tendencies from the experts. It is worth while as an example remembering Voltaire's evaluation in his study on History in his Encyclopaedia: 'Have you nothing but to say a barbarian followed another barbarian in the Oxus and Jaxartes banks, what does it matter?'. Simple positive research, objective compilation and contrasted facts. Some other data situates us facing aspects of History: Miguel de Unamuno's text: Undoubtedly a History book could have no mistaken data or no wrong references but it could be a deep lie all together, or on the contrary, it could be a faithful expose of reality and be an absolute inaccuracy, although I am not defending such an statement (Miguel de Unamuno). Those texts make us think.

Keywords

• Historia
• Enfermería
• Historiografía