[Brazilian Army nurses and transportation of the wounded: a challenge faced during World War II]

Margarida Maria Rocha Bernardes1, Gertrudes Teixeira Lopes

  • 1Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. margarbe@globo.com

This historic-sociologic study aims to analyse the challenges faced by the Brazilian Expeditionary Force's Air Transportation Nurses of the Army with the Theatre of Operations on the course of World War II. The primary source was comprised of a photograph from this time period and oral testimonies of those who participated in the conflict. Ideas by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu support the discussion. Results suggest that Brazilian nurses were challenged to transport the wounded without medical advice. We conclude that the challenge to fulfill the task imposed, which led to independent decision-making, gave confidence and autonomy to the ones already responsible for the transportation of the wounded.

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