The British College of Nursing

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 1 July 1929, Page 108

The British College of Nursing

(Published by Request.)

L— What the College Is. The British College of Nurses is composed only of trained registered nurses. It was founded m April, 1926, by an endowment of £100,000. from an anonymous donor, only the interest upon which is to be used for the purposes of the College. Hitherto, the work of British nurses for the organisation of their profession has been hindered by the lack of funds. Now, for the first time, the means of building up a powerful Association, upon a sure financial foundation, is placed m their hands. It is a great trust, a great opportunity ; carrying with it corresponding responsibility to the trained nurses of to-day and of the future. Like the Royal College of Surgeons, the British College of Nurses is composed of Fellows and Members. The former pay an annual subscription of two guineas, and the latter an annual subscription of one guinea. Fellows and Members receive a handsome diploma. The College is governed by a President, two Vice-Presidents, two Trustees, and a Council of nine, of whom six will be Fellows and three will be Members. Each Councillor receives £100 a year, for out-of-pocket, travelling and other expenses, m attending the meetings of the Council and its Committees, and to enable her to give hospitality, on behalf of the College. Each year, m July, the Fellows, by postal ballot, will elect tAvo, and the Members one, of their number, to serve as Councillors for three years. 2. — What the Objects of the College Are, To raise the general education and efficiency of trained nurses for the benefit of the sick of all classes, upon whom they will attend. It will do this, by organising special courses of practical and theoretical teaching m nursing subjects, and by holding (as the Medical Colleges do for doctors) examinations, of a higher standard than that for State Registration, for the Diploma of Membership, and of an even higher standard for the Diploma of Fellowship of the College,

These examinations, for which examination fees will be charged, will be commenced as soon as the customary "Period of Grace" terminates.

Since the announcement of this splendid endowment was made m "The British Journal of Nursing-" m May. 1926, a large number of Fellows and Members have been elected, and every registered nurse who has had three years' training at a recognised General Hospital and holds its certificate, will be wise to apply at once for Fellowship or Membership of the College,

It is very important that trained urses should henceforth realise that they are members of a profession recognised and controlled by the • State, and that they should therefore, like all self-respecting professions, support their own professional organisations by their own subscriptions. The College will be able to utilise the income derived from the large invested funds m strengthening its organisation, and m affording very material benevolent and educational benefits to its Fellows and Members.

There is no doubt that the prestige of its diploma is steadily increasing; and already it has been found that for Fellows and Members working abroad it has a very practical value.

Other educational advantages m the College programme are instruction m Civic Work, Sociology and Public Health, and m the conduct and methods of business.

A valuable Reference Library is being formed, to which a large number of books, some of which are unique, have been already presented, and which can be read by Fellows or Members at the College.

All these are subjects with which it is very important that professional women should be acquainted, and. having regard

to the sacrifices nurses have made m the past to pay heavy fees out of small salaries, for training m Midwifery, Massage, and Public Health, there is no doubt they will welcome courses of instruction m the above and other subjects.

The College has already founded a Pension Fund for Fellows and Members m old age and adversity, by setting aside and investing at least £1,000 each year, from which two life pensions will be awarded every year after 1935, by the Council, as gifts, to necessitous applicants who have been Fellows and Members for ten years — one of £52 a year for a Fellow and one of £25 a year for a Member.

A Defence Fund, by means of which its Fellows and Members will be legally advised, and if found suitable, legal proceedings will be taken, m cases of difficulties which have often caused nurses m the past professional and financial damage. This branch has already been found most invaluable m protecting Fellows and Members from injustice. The urgent need for this is proved by the fact that the medical profession m this country has two strong Societies for the defence of its members.

Schemes of insurance have been carefully chosen, which will provide Fellows and Members with deferred annunities and other advantages, and which will provide also for sickness or Accident, on advantageous terms, to those who subscribe to them.

Educational benefits of great importance are conferred by the College, such as grants of £50 each to cover the fees for tuition as Sister Tutors at King's College, London, the Battersea Polytechnic, Leeds, and other centres ; five grants of £20 each were given to enable Fellows or Members to attend the International Congress on Tuberculosis at Rome m September, 1928; three grants of £50 each will be given to enable Fellows to attend the International Congress of Nurses at Montreal m July, 1929. One hundred guineas are set aside each year for free bursaries to enable Fellows or Members to train for the Certificate of the Central Midwives Board. The recipients of

travelling grants will be required to make a written report on the nursing matters dealt with, which will be published m "The British Journal of Nursing," for general information and advantage. Free lectures by experts, m professional subjects of great importance to nurses, are arranged by, and delivered at, the College. "The British Journal of Nursing," the official organ of the College, is sent post free each month to every Fellow and Member. The College possesses m its Headquarters m Portland Place, London, one of the finest homes of any Nursing Society, where Fellows and Members are welcomed from all parts of the world, and where a charming club room is open daily which they can use for rest and recreation, and where they can order tea between 4 and 6 p.m. No profession can hope to occupy a dignified position m the body politic which does not combine to maintain a high ethical standard, and which is not prepared to give conscientious work to consolidate it for the benefit of the public, and of its own members. Thus every Fellow and Member of the British College of Nurses should consider it her duty to work for these purposes. The spirit of materialism of the present age is one of the most disastrous influences which have crept into the nursing profession ; and it is incumbent on the Fellows and Members of the British College of Nurses to combat this influence, and to demonstrate by precept and practice that their work is concerned, not only with professional knowledge and technical efficiency, important as these are, but that only those inspired by altruistic ideals can hope to maintain it at its highest level. Any further information which may be desired, and the necessary form or* application, can be obtained by wiring to the Secretary of the College at 39, Port land Place, London, W.I, enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope for reply.