Narrative of the Presence of Nurse Men in Iran: Historical Review

Abstract

Introduction : The oldest medical course in Iran dates back to the Aryan period, 3000 BC. Nursing of patients and the injured was mostly the responsibility of women, and it was limited to the house and household. This study reviews the presence of Nurse Men in Iran over the last century. Method : This is a historical study, using primary and secondary resources. Results : The first recorded hospital in which the presence of physicians and nurses have been mentioned is a hospital in Sabzevar. Specifically, the presence of men who have been engaged in nursing has been mentioned. Male bimardars worked in the male's department and female bimardars worked in the female's department. In 1921, following the coup d'etat by Reza Shah Pahlavi (King of Iran) many courses were provided to train patient care skills that was called Moeen Doctor (MoeenTabib or Moeenpezeshk). In the Mashhad army this course has begun since 1923 and in Tehran, since the year 1931. According to documents, the duration of the course was initially 8 months. Different courses that have been established to teach nursing with the attendance of the men. Medical assistant "Pezeshkyar", "Behyari"(Nursing Assistance), Gendarmerie Nursing Assistance Academy, Nursing Diploma, Behyar Assistant. During the war, there was a need for men to treat wounded warriors, as well there was a need for the male nurses to attend emergency care and serve injured people at the accidents, especially the battlefields. One of the most important achievements of nurses during the revolution and later in the onset of the imposed war was creating a positive incentive for men to orient nursing, which increased the number of nurses in the work. Discussion and conclusion: In Iran, men are professionally practice nursing because they have the required scientific knowledge and clinical skills. The prevailing knowledge and skills, the cultural setting of Iran, and the role of programs arranged by the schools and faculties to change the public attitude and improve men's professional identity in nursing have well affected the entry of men into the nursing profession to an extent that currently we are witnessing equal presence of men and women at nursing schools of Iran.