MEDICINE AS A PROFESSION FOR WOMEN
Ladies wishing to enter the medical profession can receive the
necessary instruction at the London School of Medicine for Women, 30,
Henrietta Street, Brunswick Square. It is desirable that they should
have private means, as, unless they go to India, where there is a
considerable opening for medical women, it would probably be some
time before their practice would be sufficiently remunerative. Ladies
desiring to prepare for the medical profession must pass one of the
examinations in Arts recognised by the General Medical Council, such an
examination being compulsory before registration as a medical student.
Among these examinations are:--
I. The Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations, Senior and Junior.
II. The Senior Local Examinations for Honorary Certificates, and the
ordinary Local Examination of the University of Edinburgh.
III. The Local Examination for Honours Certificates of the University
of St. Andrews.
IV. The Examination in Arts of the Society of Apothecaries in London.
V. The examinations for a first-class certificate of the Royal College
of Preceptors.
VI. The Local Examinations of the Queen's University in Ireland.
VII. The Matriculation Examination of the University of London.
Certificates must in all cases include English literature, Latin,
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and also one of the following optional
subjects:--
Greek, French, German, or natural philosophy.
Four years is considered the necessary time of study to obtain a
license to practise from the King's and Queen's College of Physicians
in Ireland; and the expense, including examiners' fees, hospital
practice, books, and instruments, is slightly under £200. This, of
course, does not include board and lodging.
An M.D. degree from the University of London is more difficult to
obtain, and necessitates additional study of a year, or possibly more.
There are at present thirty-six pupils in the school. No one is
admitted under the age of eighteen. An entrance scholarship of the
value of £30 is competed for annually in September.
All persons requiring further information on subjects connected with
the medical education of women, with the residence of students in the
neighbourhood of the school, or respecting scholarships, are invited to
apply to Mrs. Thorne, hon. secretary, 30, Henrietta Street, Brunswick
Square, London.
_Pharmaceutical Chemists._--As the Pharmaceutical Society has now
thrown its examinations open to women, there is nothing to prevent them
from setting up in business as chemists. It is an occupation peculiarly
adapted to women, and returns a better interest on invested capital
than most other trades.
A preliminary examination in Latin, Arithmetic, and English, has to
be passed, unless the candidate can produce a certificate of having
passed the Local Examinations of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge,
Durham, or Edinburgh, the Examination of the College of Preceptors, or
those of any legally constituted examining body previously approved by
the Council, provided Latin and arithmetic be included in the subjects.
Before going up for the other examinations each candidate must produce
a certified declaration that for three years she has been registered
and employed as an apprentice or student, or has otherwise for three
years been practically engaged in the translation and dispensing of
prescriptions.
The cost of passing the three examinations necessary to become a
pharmaceutical chemist, including tuition, examiner's fees, books,
chemicals, apparatus, &c., is from £80 to £100, and the time required
for study after the apprenticeship would be from a year to eighteen
months.
Miss Isabella S. Clarke, a pharmaceutical chemist, in Spring Street,
Paddington, is willing to take outdoor apprentices for three years at a
premium of £100.
The capital required to start in business with a reasonable prospect of
success is from £500 to £1,000; the nearer it is to £1,000 the better.
The stores have done much to injure chemists' business by selling
patent medicines, hair-washes, soap, scents, &c., at much lower prices
than private traders can afford to adopt.
_Dispensers._--I understand that many doctors who prepare their own
medicines are willing to employ ladies to dispense them, at salaries
ranging from £30 to £50. The necessary knowledge can be acquired at the
New Hospital for Women, Marylebone Road, where they are willing to take
girls and teach them dispensing for six months for a premium of £5. It
is necessary that candidates should have a slight knowledge of Latin,
and an intimate acquaintance with arithmetic, especially fractions; and
desirable that they should be of studious habits, as they are expected
to read various books recommended them by the authorities. Employment
can also occasionally be obtained at hospitals, especially by ladies
who can undertake bookkeeping as well as dispensing.
_Hospital Nurses._--Hospital nursing affords certain employment
to capable women, and, although the salaries are low, it must be
remembered that liberal board, comfortable bed-rooms, and washing, are
always included. Trained nurses' salaries usually commence at £20,
rising, according to experience and responsibilities, to £30. Chief
nurses of wards, usually called ward sisters, obtain in the chief
London hospitals from £35 to £50. Matrons and lady superintendents of
nursing receive from £50 to £100. Nearly all the London hospitals train
nurses.
I give the rules of the Nightingale Fund and of the Westminster
Training School, as I believe these will be found fair specimens of the
rest.
At St. Thomas's two classes of probationers are received. The rules for
special probationers are as follows:--
The committee of the Nightingale Fund have made arrangements for the
admission to their school at St. Thomas's Hospital of a limited number
of gentlewomen who may desire to qualify themselves in the practice
of hospital nursing, with the express object of entering upon this
profession permanently, by eventually filling superior situations in
public hospitals and infirmaries.
These probationers will be required to pay towards the cost of
maintenance during their year of training the sum of £30, and to give
an undertaking to continue in the work for three years after leaving
the school; but, upon payment of a higher sum of £52, to cover the cost
of maintenance and also partly of instruction, &c., the undertaking
will be limited to one year after leaving the school.
Occasional vacancies occur for the admission of gentlewomen free of
expense, together with, in some cases, a small salary during the year
of training. These advantages will be strictly limited to those whose
circumstances require such aid.
Candidates desirous of receiving this course of training should
apply to Mrs. Wardroper, the Matron, at St. Thomas's Hospital,
subject to whose selection they will be received into the hospital as
probationers. The age considered desirable for these probationers is
from twenty-seven to thirty-seven, single or widows; a certificate
of age and other information will be required. Should opportunities
occur for affording instruction in some of the duties of supervision,
they will be expected to remain for that purpose for a further period
of two or three months, but in that case no further payment will be
required. Payment will be required by two equal instalments in advance,
viz., half on admittance, and half at the end of six months. No part of
the paid instalment will be returned in the event of the probationer
leaving from any cause.
The probationers will receive instruction from the medical instructor
and the hospital "sisters," and will serve as assistant nurses in the
wards of the hospital.
The names of the probationers will be entered in a register, in which
a record will be kept of their qualifications. At the end of a year
those whom the Committee find to have passed satisfactorily through the
course of instruction and training will be entered in the register as
certified nurses.
On completion of their training they must be prepared to take
employment on the nursing staff of some public hospital or infirmary
wherever offered to them by the Committee, and to continue in similar
employment for a period of three years at least, this period being
limited to one year in the case only of those who have paid at the
higher rate. As a step to superior situations, they will be expected,
if required, to accept an engagement as nurse (day or night), at the
usual salary, for the whole or a portion of the first year after
leaving the training school. Engagements, whether as nurse or in a
superior situation, will from time to time, during the above period,
be made through the Committee with the managers of the institution,
by whom the certified probationer is to be employed. Her salary will
be paid to her by such managers, but it is expected that she will not
terminate any engagement without due notice to the Committee.
Withdrawal from the service may be allowed upon special grounds--family
circumstances or otherwise--to be approved by the Committee.
Probationers will not be expected to go out of Great Britain unless at
their own request.
The Committee desire, in every case where a staff of nurses is
engaged from the "Nightingale Fund," to place at the head of them
a superintendent, who has been also trained in the same school.
Applications have been numerous for trained nurses to fill superior
situations, such as matron, superintendent, assistants to those
officers, and ward sister or chief nurse, while there has hitherto been
a want of qualified candidates. The Committee therefore anticipate
no difficulty in being able to offer suitable appointments to their
certified probationers. They will, in recommending for employment,
consult the inclination of every probationer--so far as a due regard to
the special circumstances of each case enable them to do.
Every probationer will be required, at the end of one month from the
date of entry into the hospital, to sign a written engagement, agreeing
to abide by these regulations.
These are the rules for the ordinary training of hospital nurses:--
The Committee of the "Nightingale Fund" have made arrangements with
the authorities of St. Thomas's Hospital for giving a year's training
to women desirous of working as hospital nurses. Women desirous of
receiving this course of training should apply to Mrs. Wardroper, the
matron at St. Thomas's Hospital, subject to whose selection they will
be received into the hospital as probationers. The age considered
desirable for probationers is from twenty-five to thirty-five single
or widows; a certificate of age and other information will be
required. They will receive, during the year of training, payment in
money and clothing to the value of £16, on the following footing,
thus:--Clothing, costing about £4; payment at the end of the first
quarter, £2; at the end of the second quarter, £2 10s.; at the end of
the third quarter, £2 10s.; at the end of the fourth quarter, £8; and
a further gratuity of £2 if recommended for employment. Should the term
of residence be extended beyond the year, payment will be made at the
end of the fifth quarter of £4.
At the close of a year their training will usually be considered
complete, and during the three years succeeding the completion of
their training they will be required to enter into service as hospital
nurses, in such situations as may from time to time be offered to them
by the Committee.
The names of the probationers will be entered in a register, in which
a record will be kept of their conduct and qualifications. This
will be submitted at the end of every month to the Committee of the
"Nightingale Fund." At the end of a year, those whom the Committee
find to have passed satisfactorily through the course of instruction
and training, will be entered in the register as certified nurses, and
will be recommended for employment accordingly. The Committee have
hitherto readily found employment for their certified nurses in some
public hospital or infirmary, at salaries usually commencing at £20,
with board (including tea and sugar) and washing. Many have, after some
years' service, obtained superior appointments.
Engagements are not to be made except through the Committee, and no
engagement is to be put an end to without a quarter's previous notice
to the Committee.
The Committee will allow a yearly gratuity of £2 to all their certified
nurses, to be paid at the end of every complete year of service,
succeeding the term of training, up to the third year, inclusive,
providing that evidence be given at the end of each year that the nurse
has served the whole time satisfactorily.
No gratuity will be paid if the Committee have reason to suppose that
the nurse intends to discontinue her employment. At the expiration of
one month from the date of entry, every probationer will be required to
write a letter to the following effect:--
_To the Chairman of the Committee of the "Nightingale Fund."_
SIR,--Having now become practically acquainted with the duties
required of a hospital nurse, I am satisfied that I shall be able
and willing, on the completion of my year's training, to enter into
service in a public hospital or infirmary, and I engage, in accordance
with the annexed regulations of the "Nightingale Fund"--in return for
the advantages bestowed upon me--to continue in such service for the
space of at least three years, in whatever situations the Committee
shall think suitable to my abilities, it being my intention from
henceforth to devote myself to hospital employment. I further agree
not to enter into any engagements except through the Committee, and
not to leave any situation without giving due notice to the Committee.
I am, Sir, &c., &c.
The following regulations are common to both classes of probationers:--
The term of the probationers' training is a complete year. Probationers
will be received on the distinct understanding that they will remain
for the required term; they may, however, be allowed to withdraw upon
grounds to be approved by the Committee. They will be subject to be
discharged at any time by the matron in case of misconduct, or should
she consider them inefficient or negligent of their duties.
The probationers will be under the authority of the matron of the
hospital, and will be subject to the rules of the hospital. They will
be lodged in the hospital in the "Nightingale Home," which adjoins the
matron's house; each will have a separate bed-room, and they will be
supplied at the cost of the "Nightingale Fund" with board, including
tea and sugar, and a weekly allowance of 1s. 6d. for washing; and with
a certain quantity of outer clothing of a uniform character, which they
will always be required to wear when in the hospital.
The usual times of admission are the quarter days. Candidates
must be seen by Mrs. Wardroper, at St. Thomas's Hospital, Albert
Embankment, Westminster Bridge, London, between 10 and 12 A.M. only,
on Tuesday or Friday. These regulations may be obtained by writing
to H. Bonham-Carter, Esq., Secretary to the "Nightingale Fund," 91,
Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park.
The regulations of the Training School for Nurses in connection with
Westminster Hospital are very similar, but I think it better to give
them in detail.
The Committee of the Westminster School for Nurses has made
arrangements for training their probationers in a practical way in
the wards of the above hospital. Those young women who are desirous
to be so trained should apply (personally, if possible, or else by
letter) to the lady superintendent of the Training School, 8, Broad
Sanctuary, Westminster. It is desirable that the ages of candidates
should be between twenty-five and thirty-five. Testimonials of health
and character, according to forms supplied by the lady superintendent,
will be required; and when satisfactory, and as vacancies occur, the
applicants will be received as probationers.
Probationers will be under the direction and authority of the lady
superintendent and the rules of the training school; and whilst at work
in the hospital they must obey and recognise all the standing rules of
that institution. Probationers will be supplied with board, lodging,
and washing.
If retained, the wages in the first year of a probationer will be
£16, of which a portion may be retained till the completion of her
year of probation, as guarantee of her good behaviour, and subject to
forfeiture in case of misconduct. Probationers will be required to
conform to any regulations in regard to uniformity in outer clothing,
and if supplied with materials for the same by the school, the cost
(not exceeding £4 4s.) will be retained from their wages.
It is expected that at the end of a year probationers will be fitted to
be nurses, and their engagement will require them to serve two years
more in hospital or private nursing, with an increase of £2 for each
year--that is, £18 for the second, and £20 for the third.
At the expiration of one month from the date of entry every probationer
will be required, in such form as may be in use, to engage herself
to continue in the service for at least two years longer than her
probation, after which her time will be her own. In the event of her
not continuing after the first month no wages will be paid.
The names of the probationers will be entered on a register, in which
a record will be kept of their conduct and qualifications. At the end
of every quarter the record will be submitted to the Committee of
Management.
The probationers will be subject to be discharged at any time by the
lady superintendent in case of misconduct, or should she think them
inefficient or negligent in their duties.
The nurse, or probationer, must not only be able to read written
instructions, and to write, but have had a good English education. The
probationer or nurse is to keep her own room neat, clean, and in order,
in the home, as well as to assist in the needlework there if required
to do so.
The duties of the nurses will be to attend both the rich and the poor,
either in hospitals or private houses.
The lady superintendent tells me that nearly half the ladies who come
to her leave at the expiration of the trial month, having discovered
that they are unsuited to the life, although I believe it is not
particularly trying.