A history of the General Nursing Council for Ireland, 1920-1950.

This text offers the first in-depth history of the state body that transformed nursing in Ireland. Established in the midst of political upheaval, the Council set the standards for nursing education, practice, and regulation, ensuring that only fully trained professionals could claim the title of "nurse." This meticulously researched study explores the Council’s impact on public health policy, its role in shaping the newly independent Irish Free State’s healthcare system, and the challenges it faced—ranging from political interference to hospital autonomy. Drawing on new archival research, this book provides valuable insights into the evolution of nursing, the interplay between healthcare and state-building, and the social position of nurses in post-colonial Ireland. Essential reading for historians, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in the development of modern nursing The Nurse & The State: a history of the General Nursing Council for Ireland, 1920-950 sheds light on a pivotal yet overlooked chapter in Irish medical history.

Author Bio

Gerard Fealy is Emeritus Full Professor at University College Dublin. He is the former UCD Professor of Nursing, the Dean of Nursing and Head of the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. He holds a PhD in the history of education and has published several articles and books on the history of nursing, healthcare and education, including 'Coolfore, West Farney and the National School System, 1826–1966' (Eastwood 2023), 'Histories of Nursing Practice' (Manchester University Press 2015) and 'A History of Apprenticeship Nurse Training in Ireland' (Routledge 2006).