The Lady with the Lamp

A generation before Emily nursing had become a reputable career for young women. Florence nightingale had made a name for herself and revolutionized the profession.

During the Crimean War, a public fund for training nurses was set up . With the money raised the Nightingale School at  St Thomas’ Hospital was opened in 1860.

Florence became actively involved in the Nightingale School at St Thomas’ in the 1870’s in order to avert a crisis. The first student nurses or ‘probationers’ were receiving little formal training. A student from Sweden complained that in eights months she had learned only how “to be obedient and humble and not to think much of herself” The drop out rate was alarmingly high.

Once Florence learned this she set about reform, appointing a new sister and involving St Thomas surgeon, John Croft, to give lectures and set examinations.

With that her nurses were known world wide and took up positions as matrons. There was a branch in Ireland too, perhaps Emily had contact with them, as part of her training or may have reached a level of competence as a nurse that she could register with the Nightingale Nurses to find employment.

Many went on to lead the reform of nursing and raise it’s status as a profession. In Isold ni Dheirg, Emily’s biographer suggests that Emily may have had some training with the Nightingale Nurses in London after she finished at Sir Patrick Dunns Hospital or travel to the continent when she nursed in France and Germany.

Sources

Ní Dheirg, Íosold. Emily M. Weddall: Bunaitheoir Scoil Acla. Beann Éadair, Baile Átha Cliath: Coiscéim, 2010.

http://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/data/VOLUME088-1940/page027-volume88-february1940.pdf retrieved 02/06/2014

Photographs curtesy of the Florence Nightingale Museum, London

When Emily began her nursing career she was already 25 years old. It was the lower age limit at the time. Below is a nice example of the criteria of the day for the nursing vocation:

SIR PATRICK DUN’S TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES

GENERAL NURSES.
Women desirous of being trained as Hospital, District and Private Nurses, should apply to the Lady Superintendent of Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital; and if suitable, they will be received as Probationers under the following arrangements:-

1. Must pay an Entrance Fee.

2. Must be from twenty-three to thirty years of age.

3. Must read and write well, and bring testimonials of  good character.

4. They will only be received on the distinct understanding that they remain three months: subject, however to the approval of the Lady Superintendent at the end of one month, when if they are considered unsuitable to train, their services will no longer be required.

5. At the expiration of three months, if retained they will be provided with indoor uniform clothing.

6. The Probationers and Nurses will be required to wear the uniform clothing while at the Home or on duty elsewhere. Their outdoor uniform they will provide themselves.

7. If found efficient at the end of three months the following scale of wages will begin:- First year, £10; to be increased £2 every year during the term of training.

8. It is expected that at the end of eighteen months the Probationers will be fitted for Nurses, and heir engagement will then require them to serve two years and six months more in Hospital, District, or Private Nursing; to sick among the rich or the poor whenever called upon to do so.

9. At the expiration of three months from date of entry, every Probationer will be required to write a letter to the following effect:-

“To the BOARD OF GOVERNORS of Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital.
“GENTLEMEN, – Having now become practically acquainted with the duties of a Nurse, I am satisfied that I shall be able and willing, on the completion of my training, to enter into service as a Nurse in an Hospital, District or in Private Houses; and I promise to continue in such service for the space of at least two and a-half years afterwards, in whatever situation the Lady Superintendent shall thin suitable to my abilities.
I am, Gentlemen,…”

Image courtesy of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Sources

Reproduced by kind permission of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, End of Year Report 1889-1899, p47.

In 1893 at the age of 25 Emily began her training as a nurse at Sir Patrick Dunn’s Hospital, Dublin.