Reconstructing myths of nursing through the emancipatory quality of care

Abstract

This theoretical study focuses on the influence of myths and historical traditions of Nursing in professional practice, and is based on the emancipatory trihedron of care: to know in order to better care, to care in order to confront, to care in order to emancipate. The analysis of nurses' political fragility unveiled conservative and positivist tendencies that have been historically associated with the profession, leading to a theoretical reflection on conservative discourses about Nursing. Through the emancipatory care perspective, the study aims at pointing out possibilities for the reconstruction of historical practices of health care, adding dimension to social practices. Additionally, Nursing should take these myths and rituals as rich contradictions of reality, reflexively demystifying them through the politics of care (mediation between help and power to create autonomy).