The image of care delivery by Public Health Nurses as disseminated in Revista da Semana (1929)

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the images of Public Health Nurses in care delivery to society, disseminated by the Revista da Semana, in 1929. Method: historical-semiotic study. The documents used were images, to which an analysis matrix was applied, including fashion and body language literature, besides others to address the study object. The data were interpreted in the light of the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's notions of object representations and body hexis. Results: the distinctive use of uniforms for the Public Health Nurses' activities was a non-verbal communication strategy to gain visibility and credibility during home visits. Conclusions: Public Health Nurses were particularly responsible for patient care and guidance to prevent illnesses, with a view to the qualitative development of Public Health. The intent in this study was to produce knowledge on image records about nurses' care practice at the National Public Health Department's School of Nurses, as well as to strengthen Public Health Nursing History research in Brazil, thus contributing to a better understanding about the construction process of nurses' image.