In India, where was established first school of nursing?

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2023

Explanation

The first formal nursing school in India was established in Madras (now Chennai) in the year 1871.
This pioneering institution was located at the Government General Hospital.
The school initially offered a six-month diploma course for midwives, marking the start of structured nursing education in India.
This development was a significant shift from traditional, informal caregiving to a standardized, Western-style educational framework.

Option A: While Bombay (now Mumbai) was an early center for modern medicine, its first full-fledged nursing school at the J.J. Hospital was established in 1886.
Option B: A nurses' training school was established at the Presidency European General Hospital in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1902.
Option D: There is no historical record indicating that the first formal nursing school in India was established in Goa. Early developments in nursing education were concentrated in the administrative centers of British India.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing History of Nursing Education in India helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the history of nursing education helps nurses appreciate the evolution of their profession from vocational training to a formal, evidence-based academic discipline.
Knowledge of the origins of nursing regulation, starting with the Madras Nurses and Midwives Act of 1926, underscores the long-standing importance of professional standards and licensure in ensuring patient safety.
What if? If the first nursing schools had not been established in the 19th century, the professionalization of nursing in India would have been significantly delayed, impacting healthcare quality, especially maternal and child health, and slowing the development of a standardized healthcare workforce.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for the location of the first school of nursing in India.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on the history of the nursing profession in India.
Scan the options, which are major cities with historical significance during the British colonial period.
Recall or deduce the key milestones in Indian nursing history. The establishment of the first nursing school in Madras in 1871 is a foundational fact.
Compare this date with the establishment of nursing schools in other cities (e.g., Bombay in 1886) to confirm that Madras was indeed the first.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QDZTbCePWYbADbXvNvntKw

E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) p. 47-49

E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart A (pp 26-327 of 982) p. 29-31

Practise the full SGPGI Nursing Officer-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.