Ellen Louisa Perry

Ellen Louisa Perry (1924 –1993) , was a nurse educator recognised for her contribution to ethics, nursing standards and post-registration nurse education

Training and Career Ellen Louisa Perry was born in Harrow, London in 1924 and undertook her nurse training at St Mary's Hospita l Paddington London, qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1947. She subsequently trained as a midwife at the same institution. Perry gained further hospital based tutorial experience until 1961 when she joined the RCN Institute of Advanced Nursing Education, where she worked for fifteen years on the tutorial staff of the Royal College of Nursing rising to become senior tutor at the RCN.

While in a tutorial role at the RCN Perry worked to develop refresher courses and new courses for clinical instructors and teachers which were offered in 1962 and 1966, also initiating work into the counselling role of the nurse. In context of a hemodialysis and transplant conference she offered guidelines to nurses confronted with ethical problems. Perry also collaborated with the University of London revising the Sister Tutor's Diploma and the Diploma in Nursing. She travelled to Nepal in a consultancy capacity with the World Health Organisation. Speaking in context of a specialised course designed for nurses working on wards running Joint Board of Clinical Studies Courses she stated her belief that nurses should demonstrate use of knowledge with perception as a course outcome. During the course of her educational career Perry promoted stronger co-operation and liaison between ward and tutorial staff, noting all nurses are teachers even if unintentionally by example. She noted the nurses' teaching role also encompasses the patient and relatives. While Principal Lecturer in Nursing Studies at the South Bank Perry evaluated the new Diploma in Nursing of the University of London.

As an aside from her educational career in 1983 Perry became secretary of the newly formed RCN History of Nursing Group. She also gained a BA in Philosoph y at Birkbeck University of London.

Publications As of 2026 the following titles published by Ellen Louise Perry were held in the Royal College of Nursing Library:

Perry, E.L, 1978 Ward management and teaching, 2nd edition (London, Bailliere Tindall & Cassell) Perry, E.L., 1974 Clinical Teaching Survey, The Author, available Royal College of Nursing Pamphlet Collection Store Ref: PLT B436 Perry, E.L., 1968 Ward administration and teaching: the work of the ward sister (Bailliere Tindall & Cassell) available at the Royal College of Nursing History Collection Store, Reference 11M PER. Perry, E.L., 1975 All nurses should be teachers, The Author, available Royal College of Nursing Pamphlet Collection Store Ref:PLT B435

Death Ellen Louisa Perry died after a long illness in 1993.