Isabel Hampton Robb
Encyclopedia
Isabel Adams Hampton Robb (1860–1910) was one of the founders of modern American nursing theory
and one of the most important leaders in the history of nursing
.
She graduated from the Bellevue Hospital
Training School for Nurses in 1883. After gaining experience working as a nurse in Rome
she traveled back to the United States to take a position as superintendent of nursing at the Cook County Hospital
nursing school in Chicago
. In her time as head of the nursing program there she implemented an array of reforms that set standards for nursing education. Most of these standards are still followed today.
One of her most notable contributions to the system of nursing education was the implementation of a grading policy for nursing students. Students would need to prove their competency in order to receive qualifications.
In 1889 she was appointed head of the new Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
, where she continued to suggest reforms, participated in teaching, and published the text Nursing: Its Principles and Practice. After five years at Johns Hopkins she married Dr. Hunter Robb, and resigned to follow him to his new position as professor of gynecology
at Case Western Reserve University
. The Bullough article reports that she herself became a professor of gynecology. However, documents from Case Western and reference books differ from this account. Instead, they show that she worked with Cleveland's new Lakeside Hospital Training School for Nurses, the nucleus for Case Western's future School of Nursing. She also wrote two more books, Nursing Ethics(1900) and Educational Standards for Nurses (1907).
Other accomplishments include terms as president of American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses (now known as National League for Nursing
), and of the organization that became the American Nurses Association
. She was also one of the founders of the American Journal of Nursing.
Nursing theory
Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to define or explain various aspects of the profession of nursing.-Grand nursing theories:...
and one of the most important leaders in the history of nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
.
She graduated from the Bellevue Hospital
Bellevue Hospital Center
Bellevue Hospital Center, most often referred to as "Bellevue", was founded on March 31, 1736 and is the oldest public hospital in the United States. Located on First Avenue in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, Bellevue is famous from many literary, film and television...
Training School for Nurses in 1883. After gaining experience working as a nurse in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
she traveled back to the United States to take a position as superintendent of nursing at the Cook County Hospital
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
The John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, formerly Cook County Hospital is a public urban teaching hospital in Chicago that provides primary, specialty and tertiary healthcare services to the five million residents of Cook County, Illinois. The hospital has a staff of 300 attending...
nursing school in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In her time as head of the nursing program there she implemented an array of reforms that set standards for nursing education. Most of these standards are still followed today.
One of her most notable contributions to the system of nursing education was the implementation of a grading policy for nursing students. Students would need to prove their competency in order to receive qualifications.
In 1889 she was appointed head of the new Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is part of the Johns Hopkins University located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established in 1889, it is one of the nation’s oldest and pre-eminent schools for nursing education ranking first in the nation; it is also among the top recipients of...
, where she continued to suggest reforms, participated in teaching, and published the text Nursing: Its Principles and Practice. After five years at Johns Hopkins she married Dr. Hunter Robb, and resigned to follow him to his new position as professor of gynecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. The Bullough article reports that she herself became a professor of gynecology. However, documents from Case Western and reference books differ from this account. Instead, they show that she worked with Cleveland's new Lakeside Hospital Training School for Nurses, the nucleus for Case Western's future School of Nursing. She also wrote two more books, Nursing Ethics(1900) and Educational Standards for Nurses (1907).
Other accomplishments include terms as president of American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses (now known as National League for Nursing
National League for Nursing
The National League for Nursing is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to more than 25,000 individual and 1,200 education and...
), and of the organization that became the American Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. It started in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911...
. She was also one of the founders of the American Journal of Nursing.