Flora Madeline Shaw facts for kids

Flora Madeline Shaw (born January 15, 1864 – died August 27, 1927) was an important Canadian nurse and teacher. She helped train many nurses throughout her career. Flora worked at the Montreal General Hospital and the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. She later became the first Director of the McGill School for Graduate Nurses. Flora also led several major nursing organizations in Canada. Many honors, like scholarships and a special teaching position at McGill University, were created in her memory.

Flora Shaw's Life Story

Flora Madeline Shaw was born on January 15, 1864. Her hometown was Perth, Ontario, in what was then called Upper Canada. Her parents, Henry Dowsley Shaw and Flora Madeline Matheson, were from Scotland. Both of her grandfathers were important businessmen and politicians.

Flora had two sisters and one brother. She first went to a private school in Perth. Later, she attended Mrs. Mercer's Academy in Montreal.

When she was 30 years old, in 1894, Flora began studying nursing. She enrolled at the Montreal General Hospital Training School for Nurses. She finished her nursing studies and graduated in 1896. After graduating, she became an assistant to the school's superintendent. She worked there for three years. For a short time, she also worked as a superintendent of nurses in Boston.

Flora returned to Montreal in 1900. She became the first assistant to the superintendent at Montreal General Hospital. She held this role until 1903. From 1904 to 1906, she went to Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. There, she earned a diploma in teaching nursing.

While in New York, Flora also managed the nurses' home at Presbyterian Hospital. She used this experience to write her first book about nursing. It covered topics like hospital layouts and management. She also taught about dietetics, which is the study of food and nutrition.

In 1906, Flora came back to Montreal again. She took on a new job leading a special training program. This program was for new nursing students at Montreal General Hospital. It was also for students at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Two years later, she helped start the Canadian National Association of Trained Nurses. This group is now called the Canadian Nurses Association. Flora was chosen as its first secretary-treasurer.

In 1909, Flora became sick with tuberculosis. Because of her illness, she had to stop working for a while. She spent six years recovering in special hospitals called sanatoriums. These were in Saranac Lake, New York and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec.

After she recovered and traveled, World War I began in 1914. Flora became a volunteer social worker. She helped the Canadian Patriotic Fund in Montreal. In 1920, she accepted an exciting offer. She became the first Director of the McGill School for Graduate Nurses in Montreal. Under her leadership, the school became very respected at McGill University. Before starting, she spent six weeks at Columbia University to update her teaching skills. Flora managed the school and taught classes there. From 1922 to 1924, she was the president of the Canadian Association of Nursing Education.

In 1922, Flora also became president of another important group. This was the Association of Registered Nurses of the Province of Quebec (ARNPQ). She held this position until 1926. She was very important in changing the laws for nursing in Quebec. These changes helped improve nursing and nursing education standards in 1925. Flora was also asked to lead a big international meeting. This was the 1925 International Council of Nurses meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

In 1926, she stepped down as ARNPQ president. On August 27, she was elected president of the Canadian Nurses Association. Flora helped make sure new laws were passed for nurses in Quebec. She was also a member of the National Executive Committee of the Victorian Order of Crosses. She wrote articles for several nursing magazines. These included the American Journal of Nursing and Canadian Nurse.

Personal Life and Passing

Flora was an active member of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Montreal. She never married.

On August 27, 1927, Flora passed away in Liverpool Royal Infirmary, England. She was returning from a nursing conference in Geneva. A service was held for her in Liverpool Cathedral. A second service took place in Montreal. She was buried in her hometown of Perth, Ontario.

Her Lasting Impact

Flora Madeline Shaw left a big mark on nursing. In 1928, a special scholarship was created in her name. It was called the Flora Madeline Shaw Memorial Fund Scholarship. This scholarship helps nursing students.

In 1929, a book about Canadian nursing pioneers was dedicated to her. In May 1934, a special memorial tablet was put up in her honor. Finally, in 1957, McGill University created the Flora Madeline Shaw Chair of Nursing. This is a special teaching position named after her.