The evolution of healthcare in Central Europe is deeply intertwined with the development of protective nurses in Slovenia, a professional group that laid the essential foundations for modern nursing. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ljubljana School of Nursing and the 60th anniversary of the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia, authors Marjeta Berkopec and Irena Keršič published the monograph “Zaščitne sestre” (Protective Nurses) in 2023.
Historical Roots and International Education
The book meticulously documents the educational systems for nursing from the late 19th century through the end of World War II. It highlights how Slovenian women, including pioneers like Angela Boškin, Jožefina Bezlaj, and Olga Cvahte, traveled to Vienna during the Austro-Hungarian Empire to train as professional wartime, hospital, and community nurses.
These women brought advanced knowledge back to their homeland, often acting independently and even preceding doctors in initiatives like the counseling office for mothers and children in Jesenice.
The Legacy of the Ljubljana School for Protective Nurses
A central theme of the monograph is the Ljubljana School for Protective Nurses, which operated from 1924 to 1946. The term “protective nurse” was chosen to evoke the preventive role of these professionals, focusing on health and social protection.
- Educational Milestones: The school provided diverse study programs ranging from one to three years, setting the standard for higher vocational education.
- Professional Identity: The graduates, totaling 263 women, were recognized as having secondary school education equivalent to teachers.
- Societal Impact: These nurses worked in remote, backward regions, conducting health education, managing hygiene-related exhibitions, and promoting healthy lifestyles among uneducated populations.
Beyond Professionalism: Advocacy and Emancipation
The protective nurses in Slovenia were also pioneers of women’s rights. In 1927, they joined professional organizations to fight economic exploitation and unemployment. They notably resisted proposals for mandatory celibacy, supported by members of the women’s movement.
This book restores the names and faces of these historically “anonymous” groups of women, including wartime nurses, care assistants, and children’s nurses, ensuring their life stories and professional values are preserved for future generations.
Publication Details
- Title: Zaščitne sestre (Protective Nurses)
- Authors: Marjeta Berkopec, Irena Keršič
- Publisher: Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia
- Location & Year: Ljubljana, 2023
- ISBN: 978-961-273-249-3
