Museum of Nursing, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

The museum contains artefacts, photographs and archival material relating to nurses and nursing at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney from 1882. The collection includes microfiche registers of all nurses at the hospital, autograph books and a letter by Florence Nightingale.

Address: 
Queen Mary building, Grose Street, Camperdown, NSW
Tel: 
0295153009
Hours: 
10am-2pm Wed
Admission: 
Free entry, small charge for research assistance.
Facilities: 
Limited wheelchair access, disabled toilet facilities, guided tour on request, research facilities by appointment
Collection: 
1,500 items and archival material; 5,000 photographs

Items

Wooden Case

Viso-Cardiette

Viso-Cardiette
Description:
The first portable electro-cardiograph machine at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney
Date:
1935
Item Id Number:
98/21

Purchased by Professor G.G. Lambie, Bosch Professor of Medicine at Sydney University.

Medical Equipment

Wangensteen Apparatus

Wangensteen Apparatus
Creator:
Unknown
Description:
Wooden case 37cm x23cmx25cm containing 3, 1 litre bottles, rubber stoppers, airways, manometer and tubing.
Date:
1940-70
Item Id Number:
L83/516

Provided negative pressure suction via Ryle's Tube or Levin's Tube - the degree of suction controlled by the relative positions of the drainage bottles, for use after gastric surgery.

Diary

Personal Diary

Personal Diary
Creator:
Sister Lydia Kate King
Description:
Black covered 10cm x 8cm notebook (school type) with lined pages containing daily notes written on board Hospital ship 'Sicilia'
Date:
Dec 1914- Sept 1915

Sister Kate King maintained the daily diary while serving on HM Hospital Ship Sicilia in the Dardanelles during the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. The date on the page illustrated is April 25th, 1915 - the original ANZAC day.

Framed Letter

Creator:
Florence Nightingale
Description:
Handwritten to Prince Alfred Nurse, Sister Clifton.
Date:
1897
Item Id Number:
G68/314

The letter was written by Florence Nightingale in sympathy on the death of the mutual friend Sister Snodgrass.

Cabinet

Mahogany cabinet in three pieces

Mahogany cabinet in three pieces
Creator:
John Weiss and Son, 62 Strand, London
Description:
Ornate cabinet with original bevelled glass in doors, fitted out to hold surgical instruments.
Date:
1883
Item Id Number:
A73/520

The cabinet was donated to Prince Alfred Hospital in 1883 by James White MLC, a breeder of thoroughbred Horses. A member of well known Hunter Valley family. Uncle of Nobel Prize winner Patrick.