Women as voluntary and professional military nurses in Great Britain, 1854-1914
After the Crimean War, civilian initiatives were largely responsible for introducing female nurses into military hospitals to supplement and supervise male orderlies. The early difficulties of the new nursing service were similar to those experienced by middle and upper-class women reformers of civilian hospitals. The first female corps was almost independent of military commandants and medical officers; 'lady superintendents' made unwelcome attempts to impose the social norms and work patterns of upper-class households. The medical officers achieved full authority over the female nurses only in 1885. Although reluctant to mobilise female nurses for colonial warfare, under pressure from civilian relief agencies army medical authorities did so after 1879. Army nurses were not prominent public figures; nevertheless, British and foreign war nursing attracted considerable civilian interest, and for some women became a symbol of their right to political participation and equal citizenship. The institution in 1883 of the first national decoration for women, the Royal Red Cross, further legitimated heroism in war as a female ambition. The Royal British Nurses' Association's attempt to form a military nursing reserve
Summers, A.
History
Women as voluntary and professional military nurses in Great Britain, 1854-1914. After the Crimean War, civilian initiatives were largely responsible for introducing female nurses into military hospitals to supplement and supervise male orderlies. The early difficulties of the new nursing service were similar to those experienced by middle and upper-class women reformers of civilian hospitals. The first female corps was almost independent of military commandants and medical officers; 'lady superintendents' made unwelcome attempts to impose the social norms and work patterns of upper-class households. The medical officers achieved full authority over the female nurses only in 1885. Although reluctant to mobilise female nurses for colonial warfare, under pressure from civilian relief agencies army medical authorities did so after 1879. Army nurses were not prominent public figures; nevertheless, British and foreign war nursing attracted considerable civilian interest, and for some women became a symbol of their right to political participation and equal citizenship. The institution in 1883 of the first national decoration for women, the Royal Red Cross, further legitimated heroism in war as a female ambition. The Royal British Nurses' Association's attempt to form a military nursing reserve
women voluntary professional military nurse great_britain war civilian initiative largely_responsible introduce female nurse military hospital supplement supervise male orderly early difficulty new nursing service similar experience middle upper_class woman reformer civilian hospital first female corp almost independent military medical_officer lady make attempt_impose social_norm work patterns upper_class household medical_officer achieve full authority female nurse although reluctant mobilise female nurse colonial warfare pressure civilian relief agency army medical authority army nurse prominent public figure nevertheless british_foreign war nursing attract considerable civilian interest woman become symbol right political_participation equal citizenship institution first national decoration woman royal red cross legitimate heroism war female ambition royal british association attempt form military nursing reserve