Linda Richards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linda Richards
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Malinda Ann Judson Richards
July 27, 1841 |
| Died | April 16, 1930 (aged 88) |
| Known for | Pioneering modern nursing in the United States |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Nurse |
Linda Richards (born July 27, 1841 – died April 16, 1930) was the first nurse in America to get professional training. She started nursing schools in the United States and Japan. She also created the first system to keep track of each patient's medical information in hospitals.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Linda Richards was born Malinda Ann Judson Richards on July 27, 1841. Her birthplace was West Potsdam, New York. She was the youngest of three daughters. Her parents were Betsy Sinclair Richards and Sanford Richards. Her father was a preacher. He named her after a missionary, hoping she would become one too.
In 1845, Linda's family moved to Wisconsin. They had bought some land there. Sadly, her father died from a lung disease called tuberculosis just weeks after they arrived. The family then moved back to Newbury, Vermont. They lived with Linda's grandparents. They bought a small farm nearby. Linda's mother also got tuberculosis. Linda cared for her mother until she died in 1854.
Becoming a Nurse
Linda's experience caring for her sick mother made her interested in nursing. In 1856, when she was fifteen, Linda went to St. Johnsbury Academy. She studied there for a year to become a teacher. She taught for several years, but she was not truly happy as a teacher.
In 1860, Linda met George Poole, and they became engaged. Soon after, George joined the army. He left to fight in the American Civil War. He was badly hurt in 1865. Linda cared for him until he died in 1869.
These personal losses inspired Linda. She moved to Boston, Massachusetts to become a nurse. Her first job was at Boston City Hospital. She got very little training there and had to work too much. She left after only three months.
First Nursing School
In 1872, Linda Richards became the first student. She joined the first nursing class in America. This class had five nurses. The school was run by Dr. Susan Dimock. It was at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston.
Linda described her nursing training. She said, "We woke up at 5:30 a.m. and left the wards at 9 p.m." She added, "Each nurse took care of six patients day and night." She often had to get up many times during the night. Nurses had no evenings off. They also had no time to study or relax. They only had one afternoon off every two weeks.
Nursing Career and Innovations
Linda graduated one year later. She moved to New York City. She was hired as a night supervisor at Bellevue Hospital Center. While working there, she created a new system. This system kept individual records for each patient. This way of keeping records was later used in many hospitals. It became popular in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Linda knew she still had more to learn. She wanted to gain more knowledge. Then, she wanted to share it with others. She aimed to create high-quality nursing schools.
Leading Nursing Schools
In 1874, Linda returned to Boston. She became the superintendent of the Boston Training School for nurses. The school's program was only a year old. It was at risk of closing because of poor management. Linda improved the program greatly. Soon, it was known as one of the best nursing schools in the country.
To improve her own skills, Linda went to England in 1877. She took an intense, seven-month nursing program. She trained with Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was famous for setting up a nursing school. Linda also visited St Thomas' Hospital and King's College Hospital in London. She also went to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
When she came back to the United States, Nightingale wished her well. Linda then helped start and manage many nursing schools across the nation.
In 1885, she helped create Japan's first nursing training program. She oversaw the school at the Doshisha Hospital in Kyoto for five years. She returned to the United States in 1890. For the next twenty years, she worked as a nurse. She also helped set up special places for people with mental illnesses.
Linda was chosen as the first president of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools. She also led the Philadelphia Visiting Nurses Society. She retired from nursing in 1911, when she was seventy years old.
Later Life and Legacy
Linda Richards wrote a book about her experiences. It was called Reminiscences of Linda Richards (1911). This book was republished in 2006 as America's First Trained Nurse.
In 1923, Linda had a severe stroke. She stayed in the hospital until she died on April 16, 1930. In 1994, Richards was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. She is also mentioned on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.
See also
In Spanish: Linda Richards para niños
