SCHEMES OF SERVICE FOR THE NURSING CADRE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Act (1996) section 2 defines a nurse
as “a person trained and qualified in the promotion of health, prevention
of disease and care of the sick and registered or enrolled under section
24 of the same Act”. A nurse therefore provides holistic care which
involves physical, psychological, social and spiritual care.
The word Nursing is derived from the Latin word “nurture” which
means to “nourish”. Since 2000 B.C. nursing has been associated with
care of people in need that is the sick, the helpless, the young, the
injured or disabled.
Nursing first started as a desire to keep people healthy as well as
provide comfort, care and assistance to the sick. This objective has been
maintained over time. The practice of nursing has evolved into a
modern profession due to the changing characteristics of society.
Florence Nightingale (1843- 1950) is recognized worldwide for her
contribution to modern nursing and promotion of nursing training and
patient care.
In Uganda, Sir Albert Cook was the founder of medical work in the
country. He arrived in Uganda in 1879 with 12 recruits, one of whom
was Katherine Timson, who later married Dr. Cook. During the first
world- war (1914- 1918), the first healing and training centre in Uganda
was established at Mengo by Dr. Albert Cook. He first trained male
dressers and male assistants in Uganda.
Due to the need for maternity services, Katherine Cook began midwifery
training under the Uganda Medical Services in 1919 at Mengo. Later,
nurses’ training at enrolled level was started and the first class of
Nurses qualified in 1933. In 1956, a course for Assistant Health visitors
was started. This marked the beginning of community health training
for Nurses in Uganda.
Scheme of Service for the Nursing Cadre Page 2