UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

The Medico-Psychological Association held a special register for psychiatric nurses until 1951. New concepts of diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric problems in the 1950’s and thereafter led to the reorganizing and updating of nurse training in mental health institutions around Ireland. The factors influencing the changes nationally and internationally included: The enactment of the Mental Treatment Act (1945); The Nurses Act (1950) establishment of An Bord Altranais by the Nurses Act (1950); The report of the Expert Committee on Nursing (WHO, 1995); Proceeding of the Conference on Mental Health Nursing (WHO, 1957) and New Syllabus for Psychiatric Nurse Training by An Bord Altranais (1959).

Nursing Graduations at Our Lady’s Hospital 1960 and 1964.

The GNC was dissolved in 1960. In early 1961 Ms. Mary J O’ Connor (Matron 1957-1972) and Ms. Hanora Carroll/Henry (Sister Tutor) (1960-1996) implemented the Directives as set out in the new three-year Hospital Certificate course. To accommodate the course design, block (modular) training was initiated and extra tutorial staff (including Mr. Joe Healy and Ms. Nora McCarthy) were appointed. The Reports of the Commission on Mental Illness recommended that students get general nursing experience and this was implemented in 1966. The clinical training areas in addition to Our Lady’s Hospital, were extended to include St. Anne’s Hospital, Cork Regional Hospital, St. Stephens Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital, St. Finbarr’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital, St. Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital as well as community services. Over time other nurse tutors appointed included Martin Philpott and Rick Deady. During the 1970s, the demand for nurses trained as psychiatric nurses increased due to the reconfiguration of the mental health services. The closure of Our Lady’s Hospital and consequential distribution of patients to the community required an increased number of nurses. Thus, trainee numbers in the hospital exceeded 150 and clinical teachers were allocated full time to the School of Nursing due to the scarcity of nurse tutors. In 1987 however, Our Lady’s School of Nursing had only 44 students as a result of the embargo on recruitment imposed

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