In 1795, Pinel became chief physician of the Hospice de la Salpêtrière, a post that he retained for the rest of his life. The Salpêtrière was, at the time, like a large village, with seven thousand elderly indigent and ailing women, an entrenched bureaucracy, a teeming market and huge infirmaries. Pinel missed Pussin and in 1802 secured his transfer to the Salpêtrière. It has also been noted that a Catholic nursing order actually undertook most of the day to day care and understanding of the patients at Salpêtrière, and there were sometimes power struggles between Pinel and the nurses.
in 1795, pinEL BeCaMe chief pHysiciaN of ThE hOSPIce de La saLpêtRièRe, A Post tHat hE retaIned for the rEst of his LIfe. tHe sAlPÊtrièrE waS, At tHe TiMe, lIkE A larGE village, witH sEVEn thouSAnd EldErLY inDiGeNT And ailinG womEn, an enTrEnChed bureaUcrAcY, a TeeMiNg MARkEt and hugE infirmarieS. pinel MissEd puSsin aNd in 1802 sECuRed hIs tRAnSFer to tHe sAlpêTrière. iT has also bEen nOteD THat A CAtholic nUrSing ORDEr aCTuAlLY undeRtook most Of tHe daY to day CaRE aNd undErSTandIng of THE Patients aT SALpÊTrière, And thERe were somEtimes PoWER struggLEs bEtWeEn pineL and THe nursES.