Published : 2024-12-27

Maria Epstein - a Pioneer of Polish Nursing and a Nun

Abstract

This article explores the extraordinary life and work of Maria Epstein, who throughout her whole life had a deep social and humanitarian responsibility. She began her work at the Association of the Daughters of Charity with the aim of caring for and helping the poor and sick, especially through the work of a small infirmary. She then organised the Vocational Nursing School of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent a Paulo, where she was concerned not only with the quality of nursing education, but also with religious and patriotic education. Between 1914 and 1916, Maria Epstein conducted short medical courses for female volunteers and was head nurse of the hospital in Bielcza, which contributed to the end of the epidemic.

In 1916, she again took up her post as director. In 1925, with the help of the Rockefeller Foundation and the approval of the Jagiellonian University, she opened the University School of Nurses and Hygienists as an auxiliary unit of the Faculty of Medicine. On 31 December 1930, she resigned her position as director and entered the Dominican Sisters' convent in Krakow. For 16 years of her monastic life, Sister Maria Magdalena was an example of humble service.

Keywords:

Maria Epstein, nursing, charity, patriotism



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Olearczyk, T. (2024). Maria Epstein - a Pioneer of Polish Nursing and a Nun. Biografistyka Pedagogiczna [Biographical Studies in Education], 9(2), 125–145. https://doi.org/10.36578/BP.2024.09.32

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"Biografistyka Pedagogiczna" received funding for the years 2022-2024 from the funds of the Minister of Education and Science under the programme „Rozwój Czasopism Naukowych”.

Project duration: 2023-2024.

The amount of co-financing is 65 992,00 PLN

Contract number: RCN/SP/0434/2021/1