Portuguese nursing : history of the life and

www.ee.usp.br/reeusp Rev Esc Enferm USP · 2016;50(3):495-501 1 Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil. 2 Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil. 3 Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 4 Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem, Departamento de Orientação Profissional, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the history of the life and activism of Portuguese nurse Maria Augusta Sousa. Method: Sousa’s life story was obtained by means of semi-structured interviews with Sousa as the oral source of data. N Vivo qualitative research software was used for data analysis. Content analysis focused on thematic analysis based on the theoretical and philosophical ideas of Michel Foucault, in particular, power and techniques of the self. Results: Alienation and political participation were revealed as pertinent issues. In techniques of production of activist subjects, the following were highlighted: the importance of the review of formal education; actions of involvement with the world, society and the profession; and finally, techniques of the self, techniques of constitution of activist subjects, professional identity and way of being. Conclusion: The constitution of the nurse Maria Augusta Sousa as an activist came about through questioning of how to be, education in the context of her family, and political engagement in Catholic Youth. This impacted her trajectory of contributions to Portuguese nursing, as expressed in the following achievements: the integration of nursing training into higher education; the creation of the Regulation of Nurses Professional Practice; and implementation of the Order of Nurses.