Structured by class, bound by gender. Nursing and special probationer schemes, 1860-1939

The debate regarding the influence of both class and gender upon the nursing profession is ongoing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of these two social constructs in relation to the type of training or education available to nurses prior to World War II. Consideration will be given to the social class of recruits through an analysis of ordinary and special probationer schemes, and the contrast between the voluntary hospitals and poor law sectors. This paper was first presented at the History of Nursing Millennium Conference in Edinburgh in July 2000.