THE NURSING ASSOCIATION OF ENTRE RÍOS, ITS ORIGINS

Abstract

The evolution of nursing to a professional stage was marked by different factors and, among these, the professional associations related to it stand out. A study was made on the origins of the Nursing Association of Entre Ríos -Asociación de Enfermería de Entre Ríos- (A.E.E.R.), considering the contextualisation of the organisation in the social and political projection of the country, the motivation of the nurses and the facts that have marked its structure. This was done through qualitative historical research where data was collected from primary and secondary sources, submitting them to a process of analysis and interpretation. The results of the study show evidence that the professional nursing organisations in our country had a direct influence on the graduates in the profession, the movement of trade unions, the policy of public health and the necessity of watching over the quality of education and professional assistance. The motivation of the nurses could be identified as a category of analysis relating to the need to belong to a professional group, the search for a professional identity, the necessity for capacitation and the desire for self- improvement. In describing the history of the institution’s growth, the formation of the directive committee is recognised as part of its beginnings. The acquisition of a legal identity, the incorporation and active participation in the Argentine Federation of Nursing (Federación Argentina de Enfermería) are also to be mentioned. The intellectual contribution achieved leads to the understanding of its ideals and reveals the history of nursing in Entre Rios.