The issue of nurse and nursing as feminine concepts and profession was widely debated at the beginning of the century by various professional and political groups and female associations. One of the most accepted positions even among nurses was that women by nature are more patient and kind, therefore born to care for men. Women supported this position because saw in the nursing profession the possibility to have a job and economical independence, but the role of mother and nurse were considered conflicting. Doctors strongly favoured a female nurse, from middle class well educated women but the idea behind this position was to keep separate and subordinate roles. With the first World War, when lack of theoretical knowledge and organization of Italian nurses, especially compared with foreign countries, were evidenced, National Council of Italian Women proposed a nursing curriculum only for female nurses and with very strict requirements. Nurses Federation succeeded in 1920 in opening nursing education to both men and women but, with the advent of fascism, in 1925 a Regio Decreto Legge, with the establishment of Scuole Convitto only for female nurses was definitely approved.
[A window on the past: are women more adapted to care of the sick?]
DIMONTE, Valerio
1992-01-01
Abstract
The issue of nurse and nursing as feminine concepts and profession was widely debated at the beginning of the century by various professional and political groups and female associations. One of the most accepted positions even among nurses was that women by nature are more patient and kind, therefore born to care for men. Women supported this position because saw in the nursing profession the possibility to have a job and economical independence, but the role of mother and nurse were considered conflicting. Doctors strongly favoured a female nurse, from middle class well educated women but the idea behind this position was to keep separate and subordinate roles. With the first World War, when lack of theoretical knowledge and organization of Italian nurses, especially compared with foreign countries, were evidenced, National Council of Italian Women proposed a nursing curriculum only for female nurses and with very strict requirements. Nurses Federation succeeded in 1920 in opening nursing education to both men and women but, with the advent of fascism, in 1925 a Regio Decreto Legge, with the establishment of Scuole Convitto only for female nurses was definitely approved.
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