Maria Inês Stilwell, ACEPS’S founder (1914-2001)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Biographical presentation of Inês Stilwell suggests a previous reflection about the social history of nursing, women's history, the value of biographical method and youth movements framed by Movimento Escutista and Acção Católica Portuguesa.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is to do the biography and contextualize the life story of Inês Stilwell.

METHODS
We proceeded to data collection of fragments (auto) biographical through a interview made Inês Stilwell and other elements of her life story.

RESULTS
The biographee started studying in England, returning to Portugal when she was 17 years old, completing the nursing program at the school "Artur Ravara" in 1934. Líder of the Juventude Operária Católica (JOC), joined at 21 years old for "Guias de Portugal". By 39, she registered in the nursing course af the Nightingale Training School St. Thomas' Hospital. She participated in the foundation of "Centro de Reabilitação do Alcoitão" and also in the training of nurses in this area. In 1957, she took part in the coordination of the first courses of physiatherapist and occupational therapist, of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML). She take place in the pedagogical council of Escola de Ensino e Administração de Enfermagem and in 1973 joined a work group to review the curriculum of rehabilitation specialists nurses.