Nursing Beyond Borders: A History of International Nursing

"Consult the RCN - they know most of the answers!" So ran a 1967 poster campaign, organised by the RCN's international office in response to the large number of British nurses enquiring about working abroad. What sorts of things did these nurses do, and what were their experiences of nursing in another country?

This event highlights the lives and careers of British nurses internationally including Mary Abbott, Marjorie Simpson and Sheila Quinn to celebrate the launch of a new digital resource, funded by the RCN Foundation and showcasing the personal papers of nurses working internationally. We were joined by influential speakers including Janet Hargreaves, Barbara Stilwell and Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses, who chaired the event.

From historical research into British nurses' experiences of volunteering with Médecins Sans Frontières to a personal story of helping countries around the world to manage change and development in their own health workforces, this event will open up the past, present and future of international nursing.

This event was held in April 2023.

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