Pioneering
I
T SEEMS
appropriate
jorie Simpson.
for the establishment
in England.
She was a pioneer, to explicate
for those in the United walked
through
of nursing a person,
research
and a friend.
all three roles, especially
States and England
the door of nursing
who have
history
that she
opened.
A number of nursing research units and university department of nursing were established. 3. The development of research in nursing practice, education, and management. From these studies, the beginnings of nursing research began to grow. 4. The dissemination of research findings.+
The Pioneer After establishing
herself professionally,
Miss Simp-
son felt a need to grow and take on new challenges. For many nurses, there is a mental “ping” that forever changes the self and results in a subsequent professional contribution.
So it was for Marjorie
Simpson.
Perhaps that moment was fostered by her decision to take a 3-year unpaid leave from the Royal College of Nursing, where she held responsibility for occupational health nurse preparation, to study for a degree from the London School of Economics. There she learned a disciplined approach to inquiry and research in sociology. inquiry and nursing. quent
It was her motivation to bring scientific research methods to the profession of
Her country, multidisciplinary
her profession, colleagues
Health, a post she held until retirement. I quote here another friend and professional colleague, Jean McFarlane, founder of the Nursing Department at the University of Manchester, and thusly honored with the title Baroness of Llandaff. In her eulogy for Miss Simpson and her tribute to the Royal College of Nursing, the baroness stated: Nursing,
own education and initiation into nursing research with Miss Simpson’s work. Baroness McFarlane believes that Miss Simpson “laid the foundations for many of the developments which would follow including the college work on Quality and Standards of Care and the Project
2000.”
The Person
in such
the Royal College of Nursing. In 1973 she became the principal nursing officer (research) at the Ministry of
of Profcsional
Her colleagues, potential students, eventual directors of research units, professors, and those searching for methods to measure the quality of nursing care best understand her pioneer role and identify their
and her subse-
responded
a way as to encourage her to pioneer a new role and a new way of documenting the value of nurses and their effect on patients, nursing care, and the health care system. Thus, she returned to nursing a different person who would indeed make a difference. In 1960 Marjorie became the first research officer at
Journal
Research
The framework for nursing research was too visionary, as in those days when there was no existing strategy for nursing research. Miss Simpson developed nursing liaison groups which embodied a four point program which encompassed: 1. The training of nurse researchers. 2. The identification and funding of places where nursing research could be carried out and where research fellows and research students could be placed.
to mark the loss of H. Mar-
She was one of the people largely
responsible
It is important
Nursing
Miss Simpson was proud to be a graduate of St Thomas’ Hospital. Yearly she looked forward to the return of the Nightingales, whom she personally entertained, even close to her death. She was particularly interested in the establishment of the St Thomas Florence Nightingale of all nationalities Miss Simpson
Museum, a popular who visit London. served
stop for nurses
in the Queen
Alexandra’s
Royal Nursing Service during World War II. Her work as a district nurse and an occupational health nurse took her into the most distant and unusual work settings. How interesting it was to nudge her gently *Quotes were obtained for publication with the permission of Jean McFarlane, Baroness of Llandaff, 1992.
Vol 8, No 5 (September-October),
1992: pp 257-258
257
258
LAUREL ARCHER COPP
into recollection her riding
librarian
of those days. She helped us visualize
a bicycle to inspect
the factories of Sheffield.
the work conditions
in
of the college who also had been a librarian
at the World “Nursing
But it was only after know-
Health
Organization
ing her three decades that she revealed that one of her
States,” I responded,
many
someone about nursing
assignments
was serving
as an occupational
nurse on the sets of the movie-making Pinewood
relax
at
after a demanding by exhibiting
horsewoman
woman
tour of night
her skills
riding
who in her duty,
Marjorie interested
would
Simpson.
She had a dignified
bearing,
the Queen’s selection
quite
consistent
of her as a recipient
Empire
in recognition
nursing.
with
After an call: Miss
to other
who now
for three decades.
Miss Simpson
was during
past year. It was a halcyon time in Cambridge, it. She died peacefully
of her contribu-
How well she instructed
us in the protocol of a royal reception or how to preside over a proper tea. And just beneath that dignity was always a ripple of humor.
in her home,
with
the
and we
talked openly about her life and her impending
of the Order
nurses
and these visits to Miss Simpand many researchers,
posts, continued
My last visit with
tion to professional
1 might
I was introduced
in research,
hold important
in Hyde Park in the early morn-
to talk with
research in England.”
chat with her, she wrote down the name
son, Miss Thompson,
as an accomplished
ing hours.
of the British
informative
in the United
“and I am so hungry
and address of a person on whom
Studios.
This was the same remarkable prime,
companies
in Geneva.
research is just beginning
loss of excellent
nursing care. Her greatest inconvenience was not being able to get out to tend her garden and her friendships. Yet her friends were ever on her mind; she dictated
a letter to be sent to each of them a few days
before she died. They realized later that she had also arranged with the caterer for a reception to be held for
The Friend
her friends and neighbors
Miss Simpson had long-term friendships with nurses all over the world. Each of us could tell our own story, and I will share mine. One day in the 196Os, I wandered into the library of the Royal College of Nursing. The person who asked me if she could
be of assistance
was Miss Alice Thompson,
a
after her funeral.
She was anxious to dwell on living, and she mimmized the importance of her impending death. In fact, some of her last words were, “If this is dying, is really quite a bother!” LACREI. ARCHER
COPP,
PHD.
KN,
it
FAAN
Editor
I
T SEEMS
appropriate
jorie Simpson.
for the establishment
in England.
She was a pioneer, to explicate
for those in the United walked
through
of nursing a person,
research
and a friend.
all three roles, especially
States and England
the door of nursing
who have
history
that she
opened.
A number of nursing research units and university department of nursing were established. 3. The development of research in nursing practice, education, and management. From these studies, the beginnings of nursing research began to grow. 4. The dissemination of research findings.+
The Pioneer After establishing
herself professionally,
Miss Simp-
son felt a need to grow and take on new challenges. For many nurses, there is a mental “ping” that forever changes the self and results in a subsequent professional contribution.
So it was for Marjorie
Simpson.
Perhaps that moment was fostered by her decision to take a 3-year unpaid leave from the Royal College of Nursing, where she held responsibility for occupational health nurse preparation, to study for a degree from the London School of Economics. There she learned a disciplined approach to inquiry and research in sociology. inquiry and nursing. quent
It was her motivation to bring scientific research methods to the profession of
Her country, multidisciplinary
her profession, colleagues
Health, a post she held until retirement. I quote here another friend and professional colleague, Jean McFarlane, founder of the Nursing Department at the University of Manchester, and thusly honored with the title Baroness of Llandaff. In her eulogy for Miss Simpson and her tribute to the Royal College of Nursing, the baroness stated: Nursing,
own education and initiation into nursing research with Miss Simpson’s work. Baroness McFarlane believes that Miss Simpson “laid the foundations for many of the developments which would follow including the college work on Quality and Standards of Care and the Project
2000.”
The Person
in such
the Royal College of Nursing. In 1973 she became the principal nursing officer (research) at the Ministry of
of Profcsional
Her colleagues, potential students, eventual directors of research units, professors, and those searching for methods to measure the quality of nursing care best understand her pioneer role and identify their
and her subse-
responded
a way as to encourage her to pioneer a new role and a new way of documenting the value of nurses and their effect on patients, nursing care, and the health care system. Thus, she returned to nursing a different person who would indeed make a difference. In 1960 Marjorie became the first research officer at
Journal
Research
The framework for nursing research was too visionary, as in those days when there was no existing strategy for nursing research. Miss Simpson developed nursing liaison groups which embodied a four point program which encompassed: 1. The training of nurse researchers. 2. The identification and funding of places where nursing research could be carried out and where research fellows and research students could be placed.
to mark the loss of H. Mar-
She was one of the people largely
responsible
It is important
Nursing
Miss Simpson was proud to be a graduate of St Thomas’ Hospital. Yearly she looked forward to the return of the Nightingales, whom she personally entertained, even close to her death. She was particularly interested in the establishment of the St Thomas Florence Nightingale of all nationalities Miss Simpson
Museum, a popular who visit London. served
stop for nurses
in the Queen
Alexandra’s
Royal Nursing Service during World War II. Her work as a district nurse and an occupational health nurse took her into the most distant and unusual work settings. How interesting it was to nudge her gently *Quotes were obtained for publication with the permission of Jean McFarlane, Baroness of Llandaff, 1992.
Vol 8, No 5 (September-October),
1992: pp 257-258
257
258
LAUREL ARCHER COPP
into recollection her riding
librarian
of those days. She helped us visualize
a bicycle to inspect
the factories of Sheffield.
the work conditions
in
of the college who also had been a librarian
at the World “Nursing
But it was only after know-
Health
Organization
ing her three decades that she revealed that one of her
States,” I responded,
many
someone about nursing
assignments
was serving
as an occupational
nurse on the sets of the movie-making Pinewood
relax
at
after a demanding by exhibiting
horsewoman
woman
tour of night
her skills
riding
who in her duty,
Marjorie interested
would
Simpson.
She had a dignified
bearing,
the Queen’s selection
quite
consistent
of her as a recipient
Empire
in recognition
nursing.
with
After an call: Miss
to other
who now
for three decades.
Miss Simpson
was during
past year. It was a halcyon time in Cambridge, it. She died peacefully
of her contribu-
How well she instructed
us in the protocol of a royal reception or how to preside over a proper tea. And just beneath that dignity was always a ripple of humor.
in her home,
with
the
and we
talked openly about her life and her impending
of the Order
nurses
and these visits to Miss Simpand many researchers,
posts, continued
My last visit with
tion to professional
1 might
I was introduced
in research,
hold important
in Hyde Park in the early morn-
to talk with
research in England.”
chat with her, she wrote down the name
son, Miss Thompson,
as an accomplished
ing hours.
of the British
informative
in the United
“and I am so hungry
and address of a person on whom
Studios.
This was the same remarkable prime,
companies
in Geneva.
research is just beginning
loss of excellent
nursing care. Her greatest inconvenience was not being able to get out to tend her garden and her friendships. Yet her friends were ever on her mind; she dictated
a letter to be sent to each of them a few days
before she died. They realized later that she had also arranged with the caterer for a reception to be held for
The Friend
her friends and neighbors
Miss Simpson had long-term friendships with nurses all over the world. Each of us could tell our own story, and I will share mine. One day in the 196Os, I wandered into the library of the Royal College of Nursing. The person who asked me if she could
be of assistance
was Miss Alice Thompson,
a
after her funeral.
She was anxious to dwell on living, and she mimmized the importance of her impending death. In fact, some of her last words were, “If this is dying, is really quite a bother!” LACREI. ARCHER
COPP,
PHD.
KN,
it
FAAN
Editor
