Degrees of ambivalence: Attitudes towards pre-registration university education for nurses in Britain, 1930-1960.
The recent decision from the Nursing and Midwifery Council to make nursing a graduate profession has for some been the culmination of over a century of expectation. From the 1890s there were voices within the nursing and medical professions that nursing should be taught in universities. The purpose of this article is to explore two attempts in the mid-20th century to establish a degree in nursing at an English University; neither of which was successful. It will be demonstrated that there were too many conflicting ideas and personalities for these to have been achieved. The doctors wanted skilled assistants, many in the nursing profession considered that nurses should have 'common-sense, courtesy and kindness', in that order, the universities considered nursing to be a practical vocation, and the governments did not want the increased spending that such a move would necessitate.
Brooks
Jane
J
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Jean McFarlane Building, University Place, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom. jane.brooks@manchester.ac.uk
Rafferty
Anne Marie
AM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration*