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Una And Her Paupers: Memorials of Agnes Elizabeth Jones
Una And Her Paupers Memorials of Agnes Elizabeth Jones Author:Florence Nightingale, Anon The biography of the woman who became the first trained Nursing Superintendent of Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary. She gave all her time and energy to her patients and died at the age of 35 from typhus fever. Florence Nightingale said of Agnes Elizabeth Jones, ?She overworked as others underwork. I looked upon hers as one of the most valuable liv... more »es in England.? From the age of seven, Agnes longed to be a missionary. As she grew older, her heart beat with working among the poor. ?Oh, for a heart burning with love for Jesus...to shine in His reflected light so as to attract some to Him, and not repel them from Him!? Her desire was granted: offering practical help along with words of spiritual comfort, Agnes became renowned amongst the poor of her native Northern Ireland. People were coming many miles across the mountains to Agnes for medical care. Wishing to become more useful to ?her poor,? Agnes attended Kaiserswerth in Germany, the very same Nurse?s training school as Florence Nightingale had attended some years before her. Miss Nightingale, on hearing of Agnes? skill and dedication, requested her to superintend an English hospital for the poor. Agnes humbly felt she needed to learn more and gain more life and leadership experience before taking this proffered position. After a brief period working as a ?Bible-woman? evangelist in the East End of London, Agnes entered St. Thomas's Hospital as a Nightingale Probationer for one year?s additional nurse training. On ?qualifying? Agnes superintended a number of hospitals in London. Then, in 1865, she took charge of the Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary with its 1350 patients. She was given twelve other Nightingale nurses from St. Thomas?s, and in her three years in Liverpool trained up many other nurses. Agnes successfully turned an unruly, disorganized and overcrowded (up to eight children had to share a bed) institution into something so ordered, even the police patrolling the wards were amazed. More than that, Nurse Agnes gained the love and respect of her staff and patients. Her life example blazed a brilliant trail for others to follow. When she died in 1868, prostitutes, criminals, orphans, politicians, clergymen, Miss Nightingale and the Poor Law Board wept alike for their great loss.« less