Ethel Gordon Fenwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Gordon Fenwick
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| Born |
Ethel Gordon Manson
26 January 1857 |
| Died | 13 March 1947 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | nurse |
| Known for | President of the International Council of Nurses |
Ethel Gordon Fenwick (born Ethel Gordon Manson; 26 January 1857 – 13 March 1947) was a very important British nurse. She helped shape the history of nursing in her country. Ethel worked hard to make sure nurses had a special certificate that was recognized everywhere. She also wanted to protect the title "Nurse." She asked the government to create a law. This law would make sure only "registered" nurses could work.
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Early Life and Training
Ethel Gordon Manson was born in Spynie, Scotland, near the town of Elgin. Her father was a wealthy farmer and doctor. Sadly, he died in the same year she was born. Her mother later married George Storer, who was a Member of Parliament. Ethel was taught at home at Middlethorpe Hall in Yorkshire.
When she was 21, Ethel started her nurse training. She trained at the Children's Hospital in Nottingham. She also trained at Manchester Royal Infirmary. People quickly noticed how skilled she was. Soon, she moved to London. There, she worked in hospitals in Whitechapel and Richmond.
Becoming a Matron
In 1881, when Ethel was 24, she became the Matron of St Bartholomew's Hospital. A Matron is like the head nurse or manager of a hospital. She was in charge of all the nurses and nursing care. She held this important job until 1887.
In 1887, she left her job to marry Dr. Bedford Fenwick. After marrying, she became known as Mrs. Bedford Fenwick in her professional life.
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Leading Nursing Reform
Ethel Gordon Fenwick was a true leader in nursing. In 1887, she started the Royal British Nurses' Association. This group helped nurses and worked for better standards.
She also helped create the Florence Nightingale International Foundation. This was a major part of the International Council of Nurses. She was the president of this foundation for its first five years.
Improving Nurse Training
Ethel believed nurses needed more training. She worked to make the training period for nurses much longer. She also strongly pushed for nurses in the United Kingdom to be officially registered by the state. This meant nurses would have to meet certain standards to practice.
Her hard work paid off with the Nurses Registration Act 1919. This law made nurse registration possible. When the official register opened in 1923, Ethel Gordon Fenwick was listed as "Nurse No. 1." This showed her important role in the history of nursing.
Journalism and Advocacy
In 1893, Ethel Fenwick bought a newspaper called Nursing Record. In 1903, she became its editor. The paper was later renamed The British Journal of Nursing. For the next 54 years, she used this journal to share her ideas. Her beliefs about nursing were clearly shown in its pages.
She had different ideas from famous nurses like Florence Nightingale about nurse registration. Ethel believed that nursing needed clear training standards. She also wanted to make sure that only qualified people could become nurses.
Founding the British College of Nurses
In 1927, Ethel started the British College of Nurses. A grateful patient of Dr. Fenwick gave £100,000 to help set it up. Ethel was the president of the college for life. Her husband, Dr. Fenwick, was the treasurer for life.
Legacy and Recognition
Ethel Gordon Fenwick's work changed nursing forever. In 1999, a special "blue plaque" was placed on her old home. This plaque is at 20 Upper Wimpole Street, London. Blue plaques honor important people and the places where they lived or worked.
