• HOME
• THE LANGUAGE OF MADNESS
• THE ASYLUM
• • Asylum Design
  • Patient Buildings
• SOCIETY
• • Urban & Rural Life
  • Class & Gender
  • The Hysterical Female
  • The Evils of "Self-Abuse"
  • Family
  • Visitors
• LEGISLATION
• • Legislative Influence
  • Origins of Legislation and the Criminality of Insanity
  • Teenaged Years: Marked Custody Transition
  • Turn of the Century: Voluntary Admissions
  • Updated Act: The Mental Hospital Act
• SUPERINTENDANTS
• STAFF
• • Working at the LAI
  • Hiring Practices
  • Rules for Employees
  • Employee Roles in Moral Therapy
  • Doctors at LAI
  • Doctor Connections to UWO
  • Training School for Nurses
  • Attendants
  • General Staff
• PATIENT PERSPECTIVES
• • Introduction
  • Patient Art
  • Patient Letters
  • Their Voice
• MEDICAL TREATMENTS
• • Medical Treatment Introduction
  • Use of Restraints
  • Drug and Alcohol
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Female Surgeries
  • Neurosyphilis
  • Shock Therapy
  • Lobotomies
• MORAL THERAPY
• • Moral Therapy Introduction
  • Labour
  • Amusements
  • Diet
  • Religion
• THE WORLD WARS
• • Before the First World War
  • During the First World War
  • After the First World War
  • The First World War and the LAI
  • First World War Veterans at the LAI
  • The Second World War
• MEMORIES OF RMHCL
• • Introduction
  • Their Memories

Training

Nurse’s uniform. RMHCL
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Training School for Nurses |  Application |  Training |  Graduation
Accommodation and Recreation |  The Faculty of Nursing at UWO

The training provided in the nursing school was rigorous. From 6:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night, they followed a continuous routine of carefully disciplined activity for accepting instructions in general care of the sick from a Registered Nurse, a Graduate Dietitian, or an Occupational Therapist. For example, they practiced poulticing and operating on the demonstrating doll, "Florence," in the demonstration room, learned childcare through the use of a demonstration baby, and acquired emergency and house nursing skills in the classroom. In addition, students were required to take courses at stated periods, which included lectures in such subjects as Anatomy and Physiology, Medicine and Surgery, Mental Diseases and Care of the Insane, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Food and Dietetics, Central Hygiene and Nursing. During their work, students were required to wear their uniforms all the time and obey the strict house rules.

A six months affiliated course was offered by Victoria Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital in 1925. Two nurse students at a time took practical training in these institutions. A similar arrangement was also made with the Metropolitan General Hospital in 1929. In October 1930, the duration of this course was increased to nine months. In these courses, each student received instruction in medical and surgical nursing, obstetrics, nursing of children, eye, ear, nose, and throat, and out-patient department.

Written examinations, chiefly on practical points, was conducted by the teachers, and supplemented by oral examinations when necessary. In 1909, the Board of Examiners of Medical Men started to conduct uniform examinations for all hospitals' training schools. Students, successful in the final examination and completing the standard and affiliated courses, were eligible to become Registered Nurses in the province. Diplomas and badges were presented to the graduate, certifying training.