Nursing and midwifery history

The RCN Foundation Monica Baly Grant was established through a gift in Dr Monica Baly’s will, with grants of up to £1,000 available for research projects, courses or activities related to the history of nursing and midwifery.  

Background  

Monica Baly began nursing in the 1930s but always had a passion for history. When she retired, she combined these two interests to study the history of nursing and at the age of 70, completed a PhD in Nursing and Social Change.  

Her ongoing passion was reflected in her role as the first Chair of the RCN History of Nursing Society, which she founded.  

History of nursing and midwifery  

The focus of the grant is on personal development as a nursing or midwifery historian and the promotion of scholarship in their respective histories.  

Research can focus on the history of any aspect of nursing and midwifery such as gaps in historical research and areas of practice where the history is not as well documented, for example: prison nursing.  

The grant also aims to remove barriers, most notably lack of funds for registered nurses and midwives who might otherwise not be able to undertake history of nursing and midwifery activities. 

Funding  

The grant is open to applications from nurses, midwives and nursing and midwifery students. You do not need to be an RCN member to apply.  

Applications should highlight the contribution that the research can make to improve nursing or to increase the knowledge of key areas of nursing and should demonstrate the use of robust historical research methods. 

The grant is currently closed however; you can sign up to the RCN Foundation email newsletter to keep up to date on when it will next open.