Sarah Swift

Dame Sarah Ann Swift, GBE, RRC (22 November 1854, Kirton Skeldyke, Lincolnshire – 27 June 1937, Marylebone) was a nurse and founder in 1916 of the Royal College of Nursing, thereby introducing Nurse registration. Previously, she had been Matron of Guy's Hospital (1901 - 1909) and Matron in Chief of the Royal Naval Nursing Service, British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England.

With help from the Hon. Arthur Stanley (Chairman of the War Committee) she set up the College of Nursing. A letter was sent out to all the training hospitals outlining the idea pointing out that although there was disagreement on issues relating to registration there was a need to coordinated nursing and all trained nurses should unite in one democratic organisation with the power in the hands of the membership.

By 1918 there were 13,000 Members. They elected the first council and set up Centres (later to be called Branches). The College of Nursing later became the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) modelled on the Royal College of Physicians and surgeons. On 27 March 1916 the College of Nursing was registered.

In 1919 she was made Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for her services to nursing.

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