Hospital Sisters and their Duties

First published in 1886, this textbook is one of the first works describing the roles and responsibilities of ward sisters.

Eva C. E. Lückes (Author)

9781108053075, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 August 2012

218 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.28 kg

Eva Charlotte Ellis Lückes (1854–1919) was a pioneer of nursing training and friend of Florence Nightingale. In 1880, aged only twenty-six, she became Matron of the London Hospital, the largest hospital in England, a post she held until her death. During her time there she improved working conditions for the nurses and trained her own staff, recognising the importance of a knowledge of anatomy and physiology, but never losing sight of the primary duty of a nurse to care for a patient's needs. She opposed proposals for the registration of nurses as she believed it would endorse lower standards of training than those she espoused. Her popular textbook for ward sisters was first published in 1896 and provides practical advice on ward and staff management and training of probationers, emphasising the importance of the sister as role model and mentor to her staff. This is the 1893 third edition.

Preface to the third edition
1. Introductory
2. Domestic management of wards
3. Relationship of sisters and their staff nurses
4. The practical training of new probationers
5. Theoretical training of more advanced probationers
6. Relationship of sisters to their patients
7. Night sisters - final details.

Subject Areas: History of medicine [MBX]