Royal British Nurses' Association
Founded in 1887 to advance nursing registration and professional standards.
The Royal British Nurses' Association was founded in December 1887 by Ethel Bedford-Fenwick, with leading matrons from voluntary, local authority and military hospitals. Its early objectives included obtaining a charter to examine and register nurses, devising pension and sick fund schemes, and establishing convalescent homes and alms houses for retired nurses. The association campaigned for a national register of nurses with three-year training standards.
Princess Christian served as president from its foundation. It received the prefix 'Royal' in 1891 and a royal charter in 1892. The charter required representatives of medical associations on its Executive Board, and Mrs Bedford-Fenwick lost her permanent position. The association set up a nurses' co-operative, the Chartered Nurses Association, in 1896, and helped establish the Central Committee for the Society for the State Registration of Trained Nurses in 1908.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- December 1887
- Founder
- Ethel Bedford-Fenwick
- Royal prefix granted
- 1891
- Royal charter granted
- 1892
- First president
- Princess Christian
- First trustees
- Duke of St. Albans and Duke of Abercorn
Facts from the source article.
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