Elsie Stephenson

Elsie Stephenson (22 January 1916 – 16 July 1967) was an English nurse and the first Director of the Nursing Studies Unit at the University of Edinburgh. The Unit was founded in 1956 and was the first university department of nursing in the UK.

Early life Stephenson was the only daughter, and the youngest of the four children, of Ethel (née Watson) and Henry Walker Stephenson, a farmer. She was born at Crawleas Farm, Merrington, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Her father's death in 1918 in the influenza pandemic has been cited as her motivation for becoming a nurse.

On leaving school, Stephenson became a member of the Newmarket branch of the Red Cross.

Her appointment as founding Director of the Nursing Studies Unit at the University of Edinburgh in June 1956 shocked members of the Scottish nursing community due to her lack of university education and teaching experience.

In her post as Director, Stephenson oversaw a new training scheme that expected students to graduate in an arts or humanities discipline before taking their nursing qualification. In 1964, a degree programme in Nursing was established, as well as a school for overseas students, which was supported by the World Health Organization.

Family life On 14 November 1964, Stephenson married William Henry Gardner, son of the printer, William John Gardner.

Within days of Stephenson's death in 1967, the University of Edinburgh set up the Special (Elsie Stephenson) Nursing Studies Fund, with the aim of developing the work of the Department of Nursing Studies at the university. The University of Edinburgh hosts an annual Elsie Stephenson Memorial Lecture, which celebrates the work of Stephenson.

Eight years after Stephenson's death a launch called 'The Elsie Stephenson' was blessed in Kuching.