The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God in Colonial Chile

Abstract

Objective: Nursing practices in Chile during the colonial era are described in this research, with special attention to Spain’s influenceon the process. Method: It is a qualitative study with a social-historical approach. The primary sources are historical texts retrieved fromthe so-called Chilean Memory in the National Virtual Library of Chile and 34 documents collected from the archives of the Saint John of GodMuseum, Pisa House, in Granada, Spain, entitled “List of the Brothers of Saint John of God who lived in Chile (207 years) and an Index of Unpublished Documents Copied from the National Historical Archives and those of the Old Hospital by Faustino Calvo.” The data, collectedthrough the use of a documentary record designed by the researcher and supplemented with photographs, was studied via contentanalysis. Results: The Order of Saint John of God arrived in Chile in 1617 at hospitals in Santiago and Concepcion. Later, it spread to thecities of La Serena, Valparaiso, San Juan de la Frontera, Talca, Chillan, Concepcion and Valdivia. The Order remained in Chile for over twohundred years, providing hospital and nursing services through religious care. Conclusion: The arrival in Chile of the Order of Saint Johnof God undoubtedly improved the organization of health care within hospitals, which were managed thereafter in an organized way, withhigh standards of hygiene and cleanliness, careful surveillance of patients’ diets, and great concern for providing spiritual assistance tothose in need of its services.