Spanish nurses' credentialing in the 20th century

Area of Science:

• History of Medicine
• Nursing Professionalization
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Nursing credentialing emerged in Western Europe and the USA in the late 19th/early 20th century, spurred by the Protestant Reformation.
• In Spain, nursing professionalization began in 1915 under King Alfonso XIII, a period of significant political and healthcare system challenges.

Observation:

• The study examines the regulatory pathway for nursing in Spain during the first third of the 20th century.
• It analyzes national legislative sources governing nursing education, training, and practice, comparing them to European and American developments.

Findings:

• While Western Europe and the USA saw nursing professionalization consolidated through educational advancements and professional bodies in the 20th century,
• Spain's regulatory and legal recognition of nursing originated in 1915, prompted by a religious congregation's request.

Implications:

• Understanding Spain's unique historical trajectory in nursing regulation provides context for contemporary healthcare professional development.
• This historical analysis highlights the influence of specific socio-political factors on the formalization of nursing practice.