Auckland District Hospital Syllabus 1914
On April 8 1915 the first fifty New Zealand Army Nursing Service (NZANS) nurses to serve in the First World War sailed from Wellington. To celebrate the event we are highlighting some other records associated with the history of nursing in New Zealand. The images presented this week in relation to nursing have all come from a collection of records transferred to Archives New Zealand by the School of Advanced Nursing Studies (SANS).
The need for increased educational opportunities for nurses was recognised in 1923 by the first director of Nursing, Department of Health, Miss J. Bicknell, who, influenced by developments overseas, considered that similar opportunities should be available in New Zealand to prepare nurses for administrative and teaching responsibilities in the hospital and public health nursing services. She presented her views to a conference of the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association, from which a strong recommendation was forwarded to the Government asking for the establishment of a school of nursing in conjunction with the University of New Zealand. This School was commenced in 1925 offering a five-year diploma programme. The students registered at the University of Otago for two years and then spent three years at a hospital. This course was discontinued in 1926 due to lack of finance.
A school for post-graduate nursing study was established in 1928 within the Wellington Hospital complex. The school was guided by a Committee of Management, which had representatives from Victoria University of Wellington, the Department of Health and Wellington Hospital Board. The school later become known as the New Zealand Post-Graduate School for Nurses and initially offered a six-month course. Courses were conducted by the Department of Health, Victoria University College, Wellington Hospital and the Royal Sanitary Institute of Great Britain. In 1940 Wellington Teachers’ Training College also participated in lectures at the school. In 1952 the length of the course was extended to nine months.
In 1970 the school changed its name to the New Zealand School of Advanced Nursing Studies. In 1972 the School’s Management Committee was disbanded and reconstructed as the Advisory Committee to the School. The Advisory Committee had representatives from the New Zealand Registered Nurses Association plus the Department of Health, the Hospital Boards and Victoria University of Wellington. During the 1970s the curriculum was revised to meet the many changes in the nursing environment. The date of the school’s disestablishment is not known, but is estimated to be around 1979.
These images are from the Auckland District Hospital Syllabus of Instruction to pupil nurses, 1914. Nurse training in hospitals from the 1880s had followed the formal Nightingale system of 3 to 4 years tuition and practical work. The 1901 Nurses Registration Act was a defining moment for the professionalisation of nursing.
This syllabus was for a four-year course including Elementary Anatomy and Physiology, Surgical Nursing, Medical Nursing, Practical Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, Nursing in Ear and Throat Cases, Massage, and Practical Dispensing. There were also 18 lectures and demonstrations in cooking including ‘Serving of food for invalids, [and] tray decoration’. Cookery was an important part of the nurses’ role and they were expected to prepare and cook individual meals for patients to suit their needs.
Archway link:
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=13235331
Sources:
www.teara.govt.nz/en/health-practitioners/page-3
www.nzans.org/NZANS History/NZANSHistory1910.html
For any enquiries please email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz
Stay tuned for further tweets and images related to the history of NZ Nursing this week.
Auckland District Hospital Syllabus 1914
On April 8 1915 the first fifty New Zealand Army Nursing Service (NZANS) nurses to serve in the First World War sailed from Wellington. To celebrate the event we are highlighting some other records associated with the history of nursing in New Zealand. The images presented this week in relation to nursing have all come from a collection of records transferred to Archives New Zealand by the School of Advanced Nursing Studies (SANS).
The need for increased educational opportunities for nurses was recognised in 1923 by the first director of Nursing, Department of Health, Miss J. Bicknell, who, influenced by developments overseas, considered that similar opportunities should be available in New Zealand to prepare nurses for administrative and teaching responsibilities in the hospital and public health nursing services. She presented her views to a conference of the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association, from which a strong recommendation was forwarded to the Government asking for the establishment of a school of nursing in conjunction with the University of New Zealand. This School was commenced in 1925 offering a five-year diploma programme. The students registered at the University of Otago for two years and then spent three years at a hospital. This course was discontinued in 1926 due to lack of finance.
A school for post-graduate nursing study was established in 1928 within the Wellington Hospital complex. The school was guided by a Committee of Management, which had representatives from Victoria University of Wellington, the Department of Health and Wellington Hospital Board. The school later become known as the New Zealand Post-Graduate School for Nurses and initially offered a six-month course. Courses were conducted by the Department of Health, Victoria University College, Wellington Hospital and the Royal Sanitary Institute of Great Britain. In 1940 Wellington Teachers’ Training College also participated in lectures at the school. In 1952 the length of the course was extended to nine months.
In 1970 the school changed its name to the New Zealand School of Advanced Nursing Studies. In 1972 the School’s Management Committee was disbanded and reconstructed as the Advisory Committee to the School. The Advisory Committee had representatives from the New Zealand Registered Nurses Association plus the Department of Health, the Hospital Boards and Victoria University of Wellington. During the 1970s the curriculum was revised to meet the many changes in the nursing environment. The date of the school’s disestablishment is not known, but is estimated to be around 1979.
These images are from the Auckland District Hospital Syllabus of Instruction to pupil nurses, 1914. Nurse training in hospitals from the 1880s had followed the formal Nightingale system of 3 to 4 years tuition and practical work. The 1901 Nurses Registration Act was a defining moment for the professionalisation of nursing.
This syllabus was for a four-year course including Elementary Anatomy and Physiology, Surgical Nursing, Medical Nursing, Practical Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, Nursing in Ear and Throat Cases, Massage, and Practical Dispensing. There were also 18 lectures and demonstrations in cooking including ‘Serving of food for invalids, [and] tray decoration’. Cookery was an important part of the nurses’ role and they were expected to prepare and cook individual meals for patients to suit their needs.
Archway link:
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=13235331
Sources:
www.teara.govt.nz/en/health-practitioners/page-3
www.nzans.org/NZANS History/NZANSHistory1910.html
For any enquiries please email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz
Stay tuned for further tweets and images related to the history of NZ Nursing this week.