National Council of Women of Canada Victorian Order of Nurses Other Involvements

Founded in 1897 in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) was established to provide nursing services to districts that did not have medical care.

Lady Aberdeen made use of her social contacts to secure the interest of medical men and prominent people throughout Canada. As a fund was started for the project, a constitution and by-laws were drawn up.

In 1898, the VON's first Training Homes were established to provide fully qualified graduate nurses with six months of training in district work. Upon completing this course, trainees were admitted to the Order if they promised to serve for two years. These nurses were then assigned to either a district of their own, a cottage-hospital, or some other service. Their duties included:

• Sending monthly reports to the Chief Lady Superintendent
• Providing nursing care to about 6 patients per day, and preparing a report for the physician
• Preparing meals for patients
• Caring for children of the family when a mother was ill

As well as establishing Training Homes, the VON raised money to hire and equip nurses, as well as giving grants to towns and districts to help them hire nurses for a year, in addition to establishing cottage-hospitals.