Nursing has always crossed borders 🌍 From 19th century Nightingale nurses to today’s international workforce, migration has long been at the heart of care.
Our #MovedToCare exhibition explores the stories of nurses who travelled to care, and those whose journeys continue to shape UK health care today.
Swipe through moments from the exhibition opening night, and objects that share these powerful stories.
📍 Visit us in London or explore online. Link in bio / https://bit.ly/4aSES9E ----------------------------------------
1. Moved to Care: Stories of Nursing and Migration graphic.
2. Banner by Seleena Laverne Daye. Text reads "The journey we made across land and sea, to build a country not made for me". On loan from the Peoples History Museum (@phmmcr ).
3. Two visitors listen to an oral history. Photo by Justine Desmond.
4. Student nurses from Nigeria arriving in Southampton onboard the HMS Almanzora, 28 May 1946. Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
5. A visitor completes a Migration Museum (@migrationmuseumuk ) story disk. Photo by Justine Desmond.
6. Square art works created by RCN members as part of the Balikbayan Box art project (@haleema.arts )
7. A artwork signed by Kindertransport children refugees as a way of thanks to "Mr and Mrs. Bond" for their care at the Dovercourt Bay Holiday Camp. On loan from the Jewish Museum London (@jewishmuseumldn ).
8. Nurse and poet, Romalyn Ante (@romalynante ) looks at an exhibit case. Photo by Justine Desmond.
9. Rosa Cassel's baby feeding bottle and photos of Cassel at work in Palestine.
10. Daughter of Rosa Cassel looking at the exhibit objects which belonged to her mother. Photo by Justine Desmond.
We had a wonderful time launching our new permanent exhibition “The Art of Nursing: Creativity, Resistance, Renewal”. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, our brilliant artists and speakers, and everyone who came to celebrate with us. Do come and visit!✨#ArtOfNursing Credit: @justinedesmondphoto
Inside Home is a brilliant new artwork by @haleema.arts which brought together more than 45 international nurses based in the UK to explore what "home" means to them.
The artwork installation is exhibited in #MovedToCare our vital exhibition exploring stories of nursing and migration. On now at our Library and Museum in London.
Inspired by the Filipino tradition of the Balikbayan box - the tradition of sending good and presents back to the Philippines. As well as the powerful poetry of @romalynante .
This autograph album, belonging to nurse Mary Wilson, contains messages written by WW1 soldiers being treated at Nethercourt VAD Hospital, Kent.
Though the handwriting styles are distinct, the care both soldiers took when writing their thanks to nurses is evident. Both messages include drawings of their regiment badges and details of how they ended up in hospital, denoting a sense of pride in their service.
We're left wondering how much time was spent, pencil in hand, crafting these messages and replicating their regiment symbols - down to shading in their drawings.
More poignant messages available to view in the RCN digital archive - link in bio. 🔗
#ExploreYourArchive #EYAHandwriting #HistNursing
Abi, one of our Information Specialists based in Edinburgh has been out and about today!
She's been at Woodland View, an Ayrshire Central hospital speaking to mental health nurses about the library offer along with Aline, a local rep, and Gillian, a senior RCN Officer.
@rcnscotland
Join Jennifer Wong, published author, next week to discuss your writing. Book a slot or come to the drop in sessions (3-4pm) in our exhibition space.
ℹ️ More info: link in bio
📆 26 - 30 May 2026
📌 RCN Library and Museum, London
On International Nurses Day, we celebrate the value and huge contribution of nursing staff worldwide.
Our exhibition #MovedToCare traces nursing and migration from the 19th century to the present day, revealing the journeys, struggles and triumphs. The exhibition's stories remind us that nursing has always been global, and that the fight for dignity, recognition and fair conditions continues today.
Visit the exhibition in London or online (link in bio)
Featured images:
1️⃣ Prize‑winning student nurses at the Dreadnought Seaman’s Hospital, Greenwich, 29 June 1954. Credit: Getty / Meager
2️⃣ The Journey We Made Across Land And Sea… banner, 2022, by Seleena Laverne Daye. On loan from the People’s History Museum @phmmcr
3️⃣ Student nurses from Nigeria arriving in Southampton onboard the HMS Almanzora, 28 May 1946. Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
4️⃣ Demonstration by nurses over pay and conditions, UK, July 1974. Credit: Reg Lancaster/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
#HistNursing #IND2026 #InternationalNursesDay
More beautiful blue skies and sunshine over our Library and Museum in London 🌞
After soaking up the sun in Cavendish Square garden, why not pop in to see our new exhibition #MovedToCare, which explores the poignant stories of migration that have long been at the heart of nursing.
We're around the corner from Oxford Circus - conveniently located near loads of bus routes and tube lines. And there's free tea and coffee for RCN members!
The month marks 246 years since the birth of Elizabeth Fry 🎂🎉
She was a prison reformer and philanthropist, who features heavily in our Prison Nursing Unlocked exhibition.
It's not a landmark birthday, but it gives us a reason to show you this fantastic book from our Rare Books collection!
Notable are:
📕 A variation of the Wakefield family crest, with the motto 'Spero', meaning 'I hope'.
📘 An inscription from C. M. Wakefield', the book's former owner, and Fry's first cousin twice removed.
📗 The silhouette of Fry aged 18 with her maiden name signature, 'E Gurney'.
Find out more about our Special Collections via the link in our bio.
International Day of the Midwife 💙
To mark the day, we delved into our Historic Journal collection and uncovered these wonderful images from a 1967 issue of Nursing Times.
The article reports on the opening of a new pupil midwives’ hostel in Ealing, providing accommodation for trainees based at Perivale Maternity Hospital. The hostel was officially opened by Sir Alan Moncrieff, Chairman of the Central Midwives Board, and featured 6 bed‑sitting rooms.
Each pupil midwife could stay at the hostel for up to three months, and was even loaned a bicycle to help them get around the district.
📸 Image descriptions:
1️⃣ Two pupil midwives setting off on their issued bicycles.
2️⃣ A midwife and pupil midwife climbing into a council‑issued Mini.
3️⃣ A midwife and pupil midwife examining a newly designed district midwifery bag.
A fascinating glimpse into midwifery training in the 1960s. 🚲🏥
#HistNursing #HistMidwifery #InternationalMid #InternationalMidwifeDay
It's time for a Pamphlet spotlight! Here's a gem that we found recently 💎
This career brochure for aspiring paediatric nurses is wonderfully 70s, and credits Laura Harris, a 7 ½ year old who made these fantastic drawings of nurses from her hospital bed 🛏️🎨🎨
Clearly they made a big difference to her stay!
Laura, if you're out there, we hope you're still drawing 😇
Do you have any old nursing tech stashed away?
Then you could help the RCN Library and Museum tell the story of the past, present and future of technology in nursing!
We are looking for members who can loan us electronic devices, clinical equipment or digital tech that they’ve used in their nursing practice, past and present.
See the link in our bio for more information 🔗
Image: ‘Intensive Care’, Nursing Times, 16 February 1978
