Monk, Katherine Henrietta, Sister Katherine 1855-1915, nurse

Person

Monk, Katherine Henrietta, Sister Katherine 1855-1915, nurse

1855-1915

Katherine Monk was born on 2 Jan 1855. She commenced nursing at the Hospital for Incurables, Edinburgh, in 1874, and attended nursing lectures and classes at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. In 1878, she became a Probationer Nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in 1879. She undertook private nursing at St Bartholomew's Hospital for a number of years, before taking up the post of Night Sister at King's College and Charing Cross Hospitals, both of which were under the direction of the Sisterhood of St John's, in 1883. Later that same year, Monk was appointed Ward Sister at Charing Cross Hospital. In 1884 she was appinted Sister Matron at King's College Hospital. Monk resigned from King's College Hospital in July 1885 in consequence of the difficulties between the St John's Nurses and the Hospital authorities. With the withdrawal of the Sisterhood of St John's House for King's, Monk was again appointed as Sister Matron, commencing on 5 Aug 1885. She quickly introduced new nursing staff to the hospital, reorganised the Nursing Department and founded the Training School for Nurses. Monk was a founding member of the Committee of the Royal Pension Fund for Nurses, inaugurated in 1887, and was also one of two Civil Matron's appointed on Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Advisory Board for the improvement and reorganization of Military Hosptials. She was Also appointed to the Council of the Red Cross Society. She took an active role in the work of the KCH Building Committee of the new Hospital, 1904. However, following a severe illness in 1905, she resigned as Sister Matron and left King's in May 1906. She died on 20 Feb 1916, at Southampton. The Monk Memorial Prize Fund was raised as a memorial. It is awarded to the nurse who obtains first place in the examinations of nursing staff. Miss Clara Sibbald Peddie, daughter of Dr Alexander Peddie of Edinburgh, was appointed as Home Sister, Apr 1888, having trained at the Nightingale School of St Thomas's Hospital. Sister Sibbald was superintendent of the Nurses' Home. She died suddenly following and operation in 1895.

0100 KCLCA

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