Midwifery Training

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VII, Issue 4, 1 October 1914, Page 174

Midwifery Training

So long ago as 1861, Florence Nightingale instituted at King's College Hospital, a system of training midwives for work among the poor. " They are to be persons selected by country parishes between 26 and 35 years of age, of good health, and good character, to follow a course of not less than six months practical training. They are supposed to return to their parishes and continue their avocation there." They were to pay a small sum very much the same as that charged for the training at St. Helen s Hospital for board and lodging as " Our funds do not permit us, at least at first, to do this cost free." "In nearly t^wry country but our own there is a Government School for Midwives. 1 trust that one school may lead the way towards supplying a want long felt m England." — "The Life of Florence Nightingale."

Note. — Unfortunately Miss Nightingale's high aspirations for the education of midwives m England were not entirely realised, as later a very inferior standard was accepted. It is of interest to New Zealand nurses to note that government training schools for midwives, as advocated nearly 60 years ago by Miss Nightingale is the system adopted here and that the free training of some few midwives for country work Was also m her mind.