Silver and blue enamel badge of The General Nursing Council for England and Wales, England, 1930
The General Nursing Council of England and Wales was the formal body for nursing training, examination and registration, founded by the Nurses Registration Act of 1919. Once qualified, nurses became State Registered Nurses (SRN). This badge commemorates Lillian Carter becoming an SRN in 1930. From 1925 onwards, the only nurses who could register were those that had trained and passed examinations at a school approved by the Council. Nurses also had to be over 21 years of age. This formal training and examination of nurses resulted in a professional qualification and so improved their status. Today the SRN qualification is a requirement for a nursing job in hospitals in the United Kingdom.
Object number:
1982-561/257
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: badge
Objects bearing special or distinctive marks, tokens, or devices signifying membership, allegiance, authority, or qualification; usually worn on the person.
Glossary: State Registered Nurse
A State Registered Nurse (SRN) is a person who practises nursing and who has been trained to a level that meets the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK.