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March 10, 2021
Today in Texas history
First nursing school in Texas opens in Galveston
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
On March 10, 1890, the John Sealy Training School for Nurses, the first formal nursing school in Texas, opened with 18 students in Galveston's two-month-old John Sealy Hospital.
The school was established by a group of philanthropic ladies of that city as an educational entity independent of the hospital. In 1896, however, the school was subsumed by the University of Texas Medical Branch. Training schools subsequently opened in hospitals throughout the state.
In the majority of hospitals the actual education students received was secondary to their service in the wards caring for patients. This pattern of training nurses predominated until well into the 1960s.
By 1991 UTMB had conferred more than 4,000 nursing diplomas or degrees.
The school was established by a group of philanthropic ladies of that city as an educational entity independent of the hospital. In 1896, however, the school was subsumed by the University of Texas Medical Branch. Training schools subsequently opened in hospitals throughout the state.
In the majority of hospitals the actual education students received was secondary to their service in the wards caring for patients. This pattern of training nurses predominated until well into the 1960s.
By 1991 UTMB had conferred more than 4,000 nursing diplomas or degrees.