The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-11 00:00:00

TRAINING INSTITUTION FOR NURSES
FOR HOSPITALS, FAMILIES, AND TIIE POOR.
All who are professionally conversant with the condition of onr
Hospitals complain of the inadequate supply of well-trained nurses as
an evil seriously interfering with tile efficient discharge of their du-
ties. They cannot trust to their orders being executed by the
nurses, and they find that the patients sutler from faults of those on
whom, in their state of helplessness, they are almost entirely depen-
dent; and it is obvious that any defects in the tempers and charac-
ters of those who are constantly with the sick must exercise a hurt-
ftil influence upon the state of their minds, and must tend to neutral-
ize the effect of the religious instruction and consolation which they
receive while in the hospital.
It is also smatter of general notoriety that great difficulty is found
in obtaining well qualified nurses to attend on patients in private
families, especially in those or the middle and lower classes ; and
parochial clergymen feel the want of competent persons on whom
they could rely, in visting the sick of their respective parishes, and
administering to their bodily wants.
The most effectual, perhaps-the only effectual, remedy for these
evils, is to train up a body of nurses who shall be taught to look
upon their work as a religious one, to undertake it with habits of
self-control, and with a mind understanding it fully, and prepared for
its trying and painful duties.
'I he want here spoken of has been felt in other countries as well as
in our own, and attempts have been made to meet it. Orders of
persons devoting themselves to visiting the sick exist in Roman
Catholic countries : an " Institution of Deaconesses" has been found
useful in l'russia ; a recent attempt to improve the respectability of
professional nurses has worked beneficially in England. The Insti-
tution which it is proposed to found under the name of " Training
Institution for Nurses" will be based on the doctrine and discipline
of the Church of England ; and it will seek to accomplish its object,
not by selecting the self-devoted few who are permitted by freedom
from other duties to give themselves entirely to this, but by endea-
vouring to act, both directly and indirectly, upon the whole body of
persons wls) are pursuing this as their regular calling in life. To
raise the character of the class by offering to its members a training
which shall qualify them far their professional work, and be at the
same time essentially a religious training; to hold out, to those who
are justified in seeking for it, the prospect of a higher professional
position than they could otherwise obtain ; and to afford also to
those who are ready (without hope of any earthly reward) to give
themselves to this work as one of Christian love, a legitimate field of
labour: these are the means which, as they have been successful
in forming the high character of the clergy and physicians of Eng-
land, may, it is hoped, be new instrumental, under God's blessing,
in raising that of a body which is at present so much in want of
improvement.
It is proposed that the Training Institution should be ander the
immediate superintendence. of a clergyman of the United Church of
England and Ireland, as Master.
That the inmates of the Institution should consist of three
classes :-
1. These under training as probationers.
2. Those who, after passing through the period of probation sa-
tisfactorily, are admitted as nurses, on condition of their engaging
to continue in connexion with the Institution for a period of five
years from their admission. During this period they will be clothed
and maintained, and receive a fixed annual stipend, and in return
will be entirely under the control of the governing body of the In-
stitution.
At the end of these five years they will be entitled to receive from
the institution a certificate of their qualification as nurses, and
thenceforward to pursue their calling, either in connexion with the
Institution, or independent of any direct control from it. It is be-
lieved that this will be a very important step towards gradually
raising the character of the whole class. A nurse having this certi-
cate will necessarily occupy a higher position than others, will be
likely to set an example whieh can scarcely fail to have a good effect
upon them, and will encourage those who are looking forward to this
as their work in life, to follow in the same course, and submit them-
selves to the training of this Institution.
3. In addition to these there will be a class of sisters, which is in-
tended to comprise persons, of whatever station in life, who are
willing to devote themselves to the work of attending the sick and
poor, or of educating others for it under an organised system like
that which Hill be here provided for them.
The management of the Institution will be confided to a council
of twenty-tour members, (exclusive c f the master, who will be
ex officio a member,) belonging to the United Church of England
and Ireland, who shall be chosen by the Governors out of their
own body.
A donation of fifty guineas in one payment, or in several payments
within four years, er an annual subscription of five guineas, will con-
stitute a Governor.
•A donation of twenty guineas in one payment, or in several pay-
ments within four years, or an annual subscription of two guineas,
will constitute a Donor.
The Lord Bishop of Landon has sanctioned the plan now sub-
mitted to the public, and has kindly consented to become President
of the Institution.
It has also received the approbation of the Lord Archbishop of
York, and the Bishops of Liehfleld, Salisbury, Gloucester and Bristol,
Rip, •n, and Norwich.
The Rev. C. Wordsworth, D.D., George Frere, Esq., and Dr.
Latham, have kindly consented to act as Trustees to the Insti-
tution.
Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq., has consented to act as Treasurer.
The following gentlemen have formed themselves into a Provi-
sional Committee, to arrange the details of the Institution, and to
solicit assistance for its establishment and maintenance :
Rev. J. M. S. Anderson, Lincoln's-inn.
Rev. M. Biggs, 46, Lincoln's Inn-fields.
W. Bowman, Esq., 14, Golden-square.
J. E. Bowman, Esq., 7, Chapel-terrace, Bayswater.
Dr. Mervyn A. N. Crawford, Upper Berkeley-street, Portman.
square.
J. W. Cunningham, Esq., Harrow-on-the_llill.
Rev. J. F. Daniell, Donnington Glebe, Chichester.
Robert Few, Esq., llenrietta-street, Covent-garden.
Dr. George Fincham, Spring-gardens,
George Frere, Esq., Bedford-square.
Rev. ,T. 0. W. Haweiss, Norwood, Surrey.
C. Ileberden, Esq , 10, Old-square, Lincoln's-inn,
Dr. Latham, 31,, Grosvenor-place.
Rev. Dr. Jelf, King's College, London.
Rev. S. R. Maitland, Newington-terrace, Kennington,
Rev. F. 1). Maurice, Queen-square, Bloomsbury,
R. Partridge, Esq., New-street, Spring-gardens,
Rev. I?. H. Plumptre, King's College, London.
Rev. A. Pott, Cuddesden, near Oxford.
Rev. W. Short, 43, Great Ormond-street.
Robert Steven, Esq., 1 New Bridge-street, BlaCkfriars.
11. S. Thornton, Esq., Birchin-lane.
Dr. Todd, New-street, Spring-gardens,
Rev. W. G. Todd, Bristol.
Rev. J. 11. \Voodward, Bristol.
Rev. Dr. Wordsworth, Cloisters, Westminster Abbey.
Persons willing to contribute their assistance to this otsject,
either by personal exertions, or by subscribing to its Nods, are re-
quested to communicate with any of she Members of the Provisional
Committee, or with any of the Honorary Secretaries, the Rev. E. 11.
Plumptre, King's College, London, and J. E. Bowman, Esq., 7, Cha-
pel-terrace, Bayswater.
Subscriptions may also be paid to Messrs. Coutts and Co., strand,
or to Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co., Birckin-lane, to the ac-
count of the " Training Institution for Iturses."