A manual for nurses and for normal deliveries (1906): contents and interesting customs

Abstract

In 1906, the doctor Emilio A. García Sierra publishes the book: "A Manual for nurses and normal deliveries", according to the study programme approved by the Law of 1902. Anatomy, minor surgery, births... are studied in the manual, according to the tasks allowed to be performed by nurses at the begining of the 20th century. The manual mainly shows bandage techniques, bleedings, catheterization, dressings, vaccination, births... What we may consider today as proper care, will be assigned to "less qualified hands", as hospital aides. The browsing in manuals like this allow us to do a follow up on the way nursing has evolved especially in theoretical education, functions, responsibilities and some other aspects which will contribute to analyse the origins and development of our profession.

Keywords

• Enfermería
• Practicantes
• Matronas
• Historia de la enfermería
• Manuales de formación