Ellen Dougherty
Encyclopedia
Ellen Dougherty a New Zealand
nurse, was the first Registered Nurse
in the world. She trained at Wellington Hospital from 1885 and completed a certificate in nursing in 1887. In 1893 she accepted the post of matron of Palmerston North
Hospital.
In 1901, New Zealand became the first country to pass legislation, the Nurses Registration Act
, on the registration of nurses. Dougherty was then the first to be registered on January 10, 1902. She retired in 1908.
Dougherty is buried at Clareville Cemetery, Carterton
, New Zealand. Her medal is at the Nurses Chapel at Wellington Hospital. For the centenary of Nursing, it was arranged with Nursing Council in Wellington that her grave be restored, and on the anniversary of January 10, 2002, the grave was rededicated with family, historians and media attending.
The UK began nurse registration in 1919, the year Ellen Dougherty died.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
nurse, was the first Registered Nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
in the world. She trained at Wellington Hospital from 1885 and completed a certificate in nursing in 1887. In 1893 she accepted the post of matron of Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
Hospital.
In 1901, New Zealand became the first country to pass legislation, the Nurses Registration Act
Nurses Registration Act
The Nurses Registration Act was passed on 12 September 1901 in New Zealand, providing for the registration of trained nurses.The legislation came into effect on 1 January 1902, leading New Zealand to become the first country in the world to regulate nurses nationally. On 10 January 1902 Ellen...
, on the registration of nurses. Dougherty was then the first to be registered on January 10, 1902. She retired in 1908.
Dougherty is buried at Clareville Cemetery, Carterton
Carterton, New Zealand
Carterton is a small town in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand's North Island. It is located southwest of Masterton and northeast of Wellington...
, New Zealand. Her medal is at the Nurses Chapel at Wellington Hospital. For the centenary of Nursing, it was arranged with Nursing Council in Wellington that her grave be restored, and on the anniversary of January 10, 2002, the grave was rededicated with family, historians and media attending.
The UK began nurse registration in 1919, the year Ellen Dougherty died.
External links
- Openshaw, M. G. Dougherty, Ellen 1844 - 1919. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 April 2006
- David J Wright, Sheffield University
Further reading
- Macgregor, Miriam (1975) Petticoat pioneers; North Island women of the colonial era Book 2 - cited in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography