Lavinia Lloyd Dock (1858-1956) was a nursing pioneer who was decisive, devoted, and vociferous in fighting for the nursing profession, equal access to health care for the poor, and women’s rights and equality. Dock was one of six children; born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania into a prosperous family. Her parents placed high value on education, liberal in their views and encouraged their children to study, which was an evolutionary concept at the time. Lavinia attended The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York City. Bellevue was the first nursing school in the United States to be founded on the principles of nursing established by Florence Nightingale. Lavinia exceled in school and graduated in 1886. One of Dock’s first jobs was as
