The Nurses Registration Act was passed on 12 September 1901 in
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
, providing for the registration of trained
nurse
Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...
s.
The legislation came into effect on 1 January 1902, leading New Zealand to become the first country in the world to regulate nurses nationally. On 10 January 1902
Ellen Dougherty became the first
registered nurse
A registered nurse (RN) is a healthcare professional who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized ...
in
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
, and in the world.
Like other New Zealand acts requiring registration of professions there was a transition or ''
grandfather clause'' allowing registration of nurses with at least four years experience even if they did not have the training specified for new nurses by the act and regulations (see clause 5 of act).
Nurses Registration Act, 1901
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See also
*Health care in New Zealand
The healthcare system of New Zealand has undergone significant changes throughout the past several decades. From an essentially Publicly funded health care, fully public system based on the Social Security Act 1938, reforms have introduced mar ...
*Nurses Registration Act 1919
The Nurses Registration Act 1919 ( 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 94) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The act was the culmination of a long campaign led by Ethel Gordon Fenwick to establish a register of nurses.
The Minister for Health, Ch ...
(United Kingdom law)
References
Statutes of New Zealand
1901 in New Zealand law
Repealed New Zealand legislation
Nursing in New Zealand
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