Read about the most influential nurses of the twentieth-century

About two years ago Professor Dame Betty Kershaw approached the History of Nursing Forum (HoNF) with an idea to increase the number of nurses in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB).  She successfully lobbied the Editor of the Oxford DNB and the HoNF committee agreed to proceed with the project. The Oxford DNB publishes biographies of men and women who have shaped Britain’s past. This latest update to the dictionary is now online and adds biographies of twenty individuals who played a notable part in the development of the nursing profession and of the Royal College of Nursing in the twentieth century. Another group, mainly from the nineteenth century, will be added in due course.

This is a fascinating collection highlighting leading nurses who have influenced practice, education, research and management. Nurses from different backgrounds, geographical locations and branches of nursing are included. For instance Annie Altschul, pictured here, was a refugee who became a prominent mental health nurse. Many of the articles have been written by RCN members. I was privileged to be involved in the project in order to highlight the achievements and the contribution of these nurses to the profession. 

You can see an introduction to the biographies, written by Teresa Doherty at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
   
Most public libraries across the UK subscribe to the Oxford DNB, which means you can access the complete dictionary for free via your local library. It is also available online in schools, colleges, and universities.