Guerra, hambre y aventura en la vida de Cándida Sala, enfermera de Cruz Roja

摘要

The aim of this work is to highlight the account of Cándida, a volunteer nurse in the Spanish Civil War in Catalonia, near the Segre front, with a view to understanding her nursing contribution in the war. A qualitative historical study based on oral history, observation and analysis of personal documents, and on bibliographic texts. Content analysis and progress analysis are conducted. Notable in her account is the traumatic impact of the war on the young woman, social and family commitment as a source of motivation for her becoming involved in the war, the humanitarian nature of the care she gave, the curative and preventive treatments that she applied to infectious and wounded patients. In the post-war period, hunger accompanied her studies as a Red Cross nurse, professional work as a nurse in various hospital centres and services in Barcelona and abroad. It concludes by stressing her qualities as a “young woman ahead of her time” showing her to be a strong woman, committed to society and family, with a rebellious and adventuring spirit, who was able to understand her professional and personal role well, fulfilling her responsibilities at all times.