TECHNIQUES OF REVULSION ON THE PRACTICE OF BRAZILIAN NURSES: THE PHYSICAL RUBEFACIANT AGENTS (1932-1942)

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/217976927254

Objective: to describe the semiotics of the physical rubefaciant agents of revulsion for Brazilian nurses in the first published records. Method: history study and literature review based on books and national articles of the period 1932 to 1942. The nurse technicians were classified according to the Zaira Cintra Vidal’s classification of revulsion. Results: a journal article and five books showed great variety of techniques and site humid application (compress, foot baths, irrigation), site dry application (bag, electric light), systemic humid (toilet, steam bath, wrap ) and systemic dry application(light bath). The physical flushing agents had medicine status, therefore they’re only prescribed by physician. However, the nurse should have knowlegde of revulsion, physiological responses to hydrotherapy, balneotherapy and heliotherapy. Conclusions: it helped understand part of the treatment paradigm in which patients underwent and a stressful routine in the preparation, maintenance, monitoring of application, patient comfort and safety and occupational risk for nurses.