Nursing School of Viseu, 50 years of a benefit

Abstract

Introduction: In the first half of the 20th century, the portuguese government recognised the shortage of nurses throughout the country and promoted legal changes in the 40s and 50s. In addition to the nursing schools located in the three main portuguese cities, there was a need to spread nursing education throughout the country, with schools springing up in almost every district centre, such as Viseu.

Objective/s: Describe the procedures prior to the start of the Nursing School of Viseu (NSV), and highlight the personalities who contributed to this benefit.

Methods: As part of a historical investigation, primary and secondary sources were analysed in digital format (legislation) and in physical format (evocative works from the Health School of Viseu, local printed media and documents from the Historical Archive of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Viseu).

Results: Twenty-two years after the legal change that made it possible to open new nursing schools throughout the country, the NSV has started teaching, thanks in no small part to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which funded the project, and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Viseu, which realised this fundamental work for the city.

Conclusion: The NSV has become a benchmark for training professional nurses, for Viseu and the region, providing care and health institutions with essential human resources for their activity.