History of Nursing
The history of nursing encompasses the story of the largest section of the health care workforce, in war and peace, home and hospital. It includes the nursing care of adults, mothers and babies, children, and people with a learning disability or mental health problem. Use this guide as a starting point to find information resources related to the history of nursing including books, journals, archives and exhibitions.
Last updated:
24/08/2022
Books
Anionwu E (2021) Dreams from my mother. Revised edn. London: Orion publishing.
Borsay A and Dale P (2015) Mental health nursing: the working lives of paid carers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Cohen S (2019) Nurses and nursing. Stroud: Amberley.
Cohen S (2018) The district nurse: a pictorial history. Barnsley: Pen & Sword History.
Corduff E (2021) Ireland’s loss - Britain’s gain: Irish nurses in Britain nightingale to millennium. South Croydon: Rainbow Valley Books.
D'Antonio P (2013) Routledge handbook on the global history of nursing. Abingdon: Routledge.
Gates B, Griffiths P, Atherton H L et al. (2020) Intellectual disability nursing: an oral history project. Bingley: Emerald.
Graham M (2013) Nurses voices from the Northern Ireland troubles: personal accounts form the front line. London: RCN Publishing.
McGann S, Crowther, A and Dougall R (2009) A history of the Royal College of Nursing, 1916-1990: A voice for nursing. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Meyer J (2019) An equal burden: the men of the Royal Army Medical Corps in the First World War. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nightingale F (2012) Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not. New York: Dover Publications.
Palmer D (2014) Who cared for the carers? A history of the occupational health of nurses, 1880-1948. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Rafferty A M (2021) Germs and governance: the past present and future of hospital infection, prevention, and control. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Rappaport H (2022) In search of Mary Seacole: the making of a cultural icon. London: Simon and Schuster.
Sweet H and Hawkins S (eds.) (2015) Colonial caring: A history of colonial and post-colonial nursing. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
We would like to thank the RCN History of Nursing member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.
Journal articles
Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journals of interest for the history of nursing. Use these links to see details of availability.
Exhibitions and Events
Online Library Exhibitions
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Explore some of the past and present exhibitions at the RCN's Library and Heritage Centre in London.
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Library Events
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Check our upcoming events.
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Special Collections
Our Permanent Collection consists of nursing specific core items and rare items. It is viewable by appointment at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre. Here is a small selection of items from our collection.
Baly M (1980) Nursing and social change, London: Heinemann.
Grove EW (1917) Text-book for nurses anatomy, physiology, surgery and medicine, London: Henry Frowde.
Nightingale F (1865) Organization of nursing : an account of the Liverpool Nurses' Training School, its foundation, progress, and operation in hospital, district, and private nursing, Liverpool: A. Holden.
Rathbone W (1868) Workhouse nursing : the story of a successful experiment, London: Macmillan.
Historical Journals
The RCN Library and Archive Service holds an unrivalled range of English language nursing journals from around the world. The earliest issues date back to 1888 with titles covering a wide variety of nursing fields.
Nursing Record/British Journal of Nursing (1888-1956)
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Digitised journal available online.
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Nursing Times (1905-present)
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Viewable by appointment at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre.
View journal details
Archives
The RCN Archive contains some of the most important collections dedicated to the history of the nursing profession in the UK. Visitors by appointment in Edinburgh.
Collections related to the history of nursing include:
- Royal College of Nursing Archive 1916 – present. Search the Archives Catalogue (Ref No = RCN*)
- Personal Papers. Search the Archives Catalogue (Ref No = C*)
- Badges and medals. Search the Archive catalogue (Any Text = badge).
- Oral History collection. Search the Archives Catalogue (Ref No = T)
- Photographic collection. Images are available in the Archive catalogue (search Any Text = photograph)
- Postcard collection. Search the Archives catalogue (Any Text = postcard)
- Records of other nursing organisations. Search the Archives catalogue (Ref No = QNIS*)
RCN Archive
- RCN Archive
- RCN archive catalogue
- RCN Digital Archive
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RCN Members can explore the records of past events, such as Congress and Annual General Meetings, using the Digital Archive for Members.
RCN Digital Archive for members - Royal College of Nursing Bulletin (1920-1926)
- Royal College of Nursing Annual Reports (1917 – 2017)
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Diane McCourt
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Archive Service
Upcoming events relating to this subject guide
Page last updated - 24/08/2022
