HISTORY
Massachusetts General Hospital has
a long tradition of serving people throughout the world. Founding
physicians, Dr. James Jackson and Dr. John Collins Warren, wrote a
circular letter on August 20, 1810 urging the establishment of a general
hospital in Boston in which they asserted that, "When in distress,
every man becomes our neighbor". The Massachusetts Legislature,
led by former U.S. President John Adams, agreed. They granted a charter
for the MGH stating that the hospital should serve citizens of other
countries and provide comfort to "the whole family of man".
In the circular letter, which proclaimed the
mission of MGH, Doctors Warren and Jackson stated that the first
requisite in sickness was a kind and skillful nurse. Influential
nurses of the time included Miss Rebecca Taylor who was head nurse
at MGH for 34 years. Upon her retirement in 1860, Dr. Jackson gave
the tribute to Miss Taylor and praised her devotion to the sick.
He noted, "I wish to point out how high are the duties of a
nurse; and how justly they entitle one, who performs them skillfully
and faithfully and kindly, to the love and respect of mankind".
Another notable MGH nurse was Miss Linda Richards, former superintendent
of the Boston Training School for Nurses at MGH. Miss Richards was
the first U.S. nurse to engage in international nursing, through
her work in Japan in 1885.
THE INTERNATIONAL NURSE CONSULTANT PROGRAM
The International Nurse Consultant
Program was developed in 1995. This program provides an opportunity
for nurses throughout the world to visit MGH and consult with our
expert nursing leaders and clinicians. The primary goals of the program
are to improve global health care and to promote professional dialogue
across cultures. An individualized learning curriculum is designed
for each visitor to meet his or her learning objectives. Options for
learning include clinical observation, leadership consultation and
didactic lectures. MGH nursing consultants are also available for
global healthcare in-country consultation projects.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Donna
Perry, RN, MS
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