Objective:
Discuss the repercussions of the symbolic struggle between laic nurses and Sisters of Charity on the leading position of the hospital’s nursing service.
Methods:
Historical and social study. Primary sources: written documents and oral testimonies. Secondary sources: bibliography on the theme.
Results:
The organized and analyzed data show that the religious nurses were successful in their fight strategies to occupy the spaces of power at the hospital, successfully replacing laic nurses.
Conclusion:
The religious habitus associated to the social capital and symbolic capital, represented by important alliances with the hospital board were efficient in the struggle for positions of power and prestige in the hospital.
History of Nursing; Nursing Service, Hospital; Schools, Nursing; Hospitals, Federal