Ellen Dougherty

Ellen Dougherty (September 20, 1844 to November 3, 1919), 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.