Skrb za bolesne i potrebite stara je koliko i umijeće liječenja. Međutim, sve do modernog doba skrb za bolesne bila je obilježena više karitativnim pristupom bez propisanih standarda i sustavne organizacije edukacije osoba koje su skrb provodile. U radu će se prikazati rad i djelovanje sestara milosrdnica sv. Vinka Paulskog od druge polovice 19. stoljeća do današnjih dana i njihov doprinos razvoju zdravstvene zaštite u Rijeci. Izvršena je analiza dosad neistraženih primarnih arhivskih izvora, provedeni su polustrukturirani intervjui i pregled dostupne literature koja se bavi djelovanjem ovoga reda. Sestre milosrdnice su značajno utjecale na unaprjeđivanje skrb i organizacije rada u zdravstvenim ustanovama u Hrvatskoj od druge polovice 19. stoljeća. Rasvjetljavanje njihovog djelovanje u sklopu zdravstvenih i socijalnih ustanova u Rijeci, koja je bila pod utjecajem različitih povijesnih događanja, nezaobilazna je tema u razumijevanje povijesnog razvoja sestrinstva na našim područjima. Caring for the sick and needy is as old as it is easier to treat them. Until modern times, however, nursing was characterised by a rather charitable approach without prescribed standards and a systematic organisation of the training of the people who carried it out. The article presents the work and activities of »The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul from the second half of the 19th century to the present day and their contribution to the development of healthcare in Rijeka. An analysis of previously unexplored primary archival sources, semi-structured interviews and a review of the available literature on the activities of this order were conducted. The Sisters of Charity had a significant influence on the improvement of care and the organisation of work in health care institutions in Croatia from the second half of the 19th century. The information about their activities in the health and social care institutions in Rijeka, which was influenced by various historical events, is an unavoidable topic for understanding the historical development of nursing in our region.