Jane Hitchcock Research Paper

Jane Elizabeth Hitchcock, a pioneer in public health, was born on August 31, 1863, in Amherst, Massachusetts to Dr. Edward and Mary Hitchcock. Jane was a very bright young women who pursued her education at Mount Holyoke Seminary and Cornell University where she was considered a “special student” (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007). Jane completed her nursing education at New York Hospital Training School for Nurses and graduated in 1891. Jane chose to begin her nursing career back in her hometown of Massachusetts where she was the head nurse of Newton Hospital for three years from 1891 to 1893 (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007).
It was in 1896 Jane when decided to return to New York where she joined Lillian Wald and Mary Brewster who also two historically important nurses in the field of nursing. While in New York, Jane lived and worked at the Henry Street Settlement till 1922 (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007). Throughout her years at Henry Street Settlement Jane took on many roles as a public health nurse, starting as a staff nurse and then further promoting to the supervisor of the settlement (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007). Jane had a …show more content…
Jane was appointed as Secretary of the New York State Board of Nurse Examiners and worked from 1903 until 1919 (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007). Throughout her time working as secretary she helped create and shape the licensure examination for nurses. One thing Jane made sure of was that the examination included questions regarding public health and that is seen on the NCLEX test today. (American Association for the History of Nursing, 2007). It was the work of Jane Elizabeth Hitchcock that integrated the teaching of public health nursing into the curriculum of the training schools and is still taught throughout nursing school