Lecture Notes: Mary Breckenridge and Frontier Nursing Service
Key Events in Mary Breckenridge's Life
- Second Pregnancy and Loss
- Daughter Paulie born prematurely on July 8, 1916, and died after six hours.
- Coping with grief, Mary Breckenridge became more devoted to her son Breckie.
- Breckie died on January 23, 1918, shortly after his fourth birthday.
- Breckenridge's grief motivated her to focus on serving children and improving healthcare.
Mary Breckenridge's Career Shift
- Red Cross and War Effort
- Joined American Red Cross after her son's death.
- Served overseas during World War I, leveraging nursing skills and multilingual abilities.
Introduction to Frontier Nursing Service (FNS)
- Formation and Vision
- Established in 1925 by Mary Breckenridge in Leslie County, Kentucky.
- Demonstrated possibilities of rural healthcare in the U.S.
- Reduced infant and maternal mortality rates significantly.
Historical Context of Nursing
- History of Nursing Group
- Encourages interest in nursing history and is part of the Royal College of Nursing.
- Organizes quarterly talks and visits.
Development of Nursing Systems
- UK and U.S. Healthcare Links
- Influences from British district nursing concepts.
- Early 20th-century healthcare improvements, impact of philanthropy and public health movements.
Documentary and Mary Breckenridge's Influence
- Documentary Clip: Angels on Horseback
- Produced by Chelsea Gorham.
- Covers the founding years of FNS and its impact on healthcare.
Training and Influence from the UK
- Mary Breckenridge's Training
- Trained in midwifery in Britain.
- Inspired by Scotland's nurse-midwife model.
The Highlands and Islands Medical Service
- State-funded Healthcare in Scotland
- Provided comprehensive care across half of Scotland's landmass starting in 1913.
Life of Frontier Nursing Service Nurses
- Roles and Daily Activities
- Nurses worked in rural clinics, traveled on horseback, provided exhaustive care.
- Emphasized preventive healthcare and community education.
Impact of Education and Healthcare
- Educating Communities
- Nurses educated women in hygiene and preventive health practices.
- Improved health outcomes significantly for children and families.
Conclusion
- Mary Breckenridge's legacy is profound, having innovatively combined midwifery and community nursing to drastically improve healthcare in rural Appalachia. Her work laid the foundation for modern rural healthcare models.
These notes offer a comprehensive overview of Mary Breckenridge's contributions to healthcare, especially in rural settings, and provide a historical perspective on nursing development both in the U.S. and the UK.