This thesis examines the establishment and work of local nursing associations in provincial England between 1860 and 1900. It challenges the conventional idea that nursing reform was a hospital based phenomenon. Reform was supported by urban elites, people with strong religious convictions and medical practitioners. In addition, associations helped to facilitate the entry of women into management in both voluntary and paid positions. This research indicates that nursing reform took place alongside other initiatives that aimed to train working-class women to be useful and obedient servants in private homes. Associations aimed, in part, to reform the lives of the working classes through the training of district nurses who were expected to give instruction regarding health, as well as caring for the sick. The establishment and subsequent form of associations was dependent upon local conditions and circumstances. An analysis of the success and failure of local associations in reforming hospital nursing, caring for the sick poor and competing in the medical market for private patients is undertaken. The influence of class relations, religion, gender, place and individual agency in the formation of associations, the employment of nurses and the practice of nursing are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:566083 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Wildman, Stuart |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/3883/ |
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