Missionary Nurse Dorothy Davis Cook, 1940-1972: “Mother of Swazi Nurses”
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MISSIONARY NURSE DOROTHY DAVIS COOK, 1940-1972: “MOTHER OF SWAZI NURSES” by Susan Elaine Elliott A dissertation presented to the FACULTY OF THE HAHN SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO A partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NURSING April 14,2000 Dissertation Committee Patricia Roth, EdD, RN, Chair Mary Jo Clark, PhD, RN Mary Samecky, DNSc, RN Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPROVAL PAGE, DISSERTATION UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NURSING UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO CANDIDATE’S NAME: Susan Elaine Elliott TITLE OF DISSERTATION: Missionary Nurse Dorothy Davis Cook, 1940-1972 “Mother of Swazi Nurses” DISSERTATION COMMITTEE: Patricia Roth, EdD, RN, Chair Mary Jo Clark, PhD, RN Mary Samecky, DNSc, RN Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MISSIONARY NURSE DOROTHY DAVIS COOK, 1940-1972: “MOTHER OF SWAZI NURSES” Dramatically absent from nursing’s historical knowledge and professional recognition are the lives, roles, contributions, and legacies of Christian faith-based nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ministry and service of Sister Tutor Dorothy Davis Cook, Church of the Nazarene missionary nurse in the African country of Swaziland 1940 to 1972. The multi-dimensional, multi-task expanded roles manifested in her integration of Christian missionary and nurse were explored and her legacy identified. The most significant primary source for this study was Mrs. Cook herself. She was interviewed on three occasions and has provided personal documents, journals, and photographs. Data were also collected from four organizational archives. Other missionary nurses and Swazi nurses were interviewed. Mrs. Cook obtained her basic nursing education and training in the United States. Following her arrival in Swaziland, she earned her midwifery certification and Sister Tutor diploma. Building on the foundation of a nurse aide program, she upgraded nursing education and established the first state registered nurse program in Swaziland To assist in this endeavor, she wrote four nursing texts which became the gold standard for similar nursing programs in the surrounding countries. She had leadership roles in the High Commission Territories’ Nursing Council, the Swaziland Nursing Council, and the Swaziland Nursing Association, and co-authored the 1965 Swaziland Nurse and Midwifery Act. For the majority of her service years, Mrs. Cook lived with the Swazi nurses. Mrs. Cook educated several hundred Swazi Christian nurses who continue to Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. influence the health, socio-economic status, and spiritual well-being of Swaziland today. In honor of her dedication to this cause, she was named the “Mother of Swazi Nurses”. The findings of this study yield unique teaching examples of missionary nursing, advanced practice nursing, nursing education, and nursing administration, each with a spiritual care emphasis in a transcultural environment The importance of cultural sensitivity and competence in all areas of nursing is demonstrated. Christian spiritual care as a dynamic component of nursing education and nursing care is prominent. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION No one lives, or writes, in isolation and there are many to whom I am indebted / today. I first give praise and thanksgiving to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the will of God the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit, this phase of my personal and professional growth and development, and hopefully ministry, draws to an end. As Matthew 5:16 states, “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”. In the words of one of my favorite songs, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory great things He has done”. I dedicate this work to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester C. Elliott They raised me to know the Lord and in the mission of the Church of the Nazarene. They have prayed for me, mentored me, and sacrificed for me. They have listened, encouraged, comforted, cheered, and loved. And they proof-read one more time. I appreciate the support and prayers of my sister, my nieces, extended family, church family, and friends. Each hug, each word of encouragement, each prayer, each has been offered at the perfect moment in time and I am grateful. Guiding me through this journey has been a mentor who became my friend. Dr. Roth, with her gentle firmness, genuinely cared about what was important to me. She helped me keep my flashlight focused on one narrow path of progress and I will fondly remember our times of sharing together. To Dr. Clark and her husband, I must take this formal opportunity to thank for their generous donation of a computer. While it was a challenge to learn, the time saved in footnotes and editing is immeasurable. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. And to Dr. Samecky, whose command of the English language and historical methodology assisted me both in my qualifying exam and in this work, I too say thank you. As a nurse historian, she has set the standard high and it is an honor to know her and to have her name on my paper. This study was funded in part by the Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Mu Chapter at Large 1999 Research Conduct Award. My appreciation to nursing’s honor society. There is one more to whom I must say thank you and that is Dorothy Davis Cook. She first role modeled Christian missionary nursing and the joy of serving the Lord. She then granted me the privilege of writing her story. She entrusted me with all of her personal papers and documents and with the responsibility to be true to her and to her God. Thank you Miss Dorothy. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AD- Autograph document ALS- Autograph letter signed ca.- circa LS- Letter signed TD- Typed document TLS- Typed letter signed TMs- Typed manuscript n.d.- No date n.p.- Not published RFM- Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital R.N.- Registered Nurse S.R.N.- State Registered Nurse S.R.M.- State Registered Midwife Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CONTENTS DEDICATION LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Chapter 1 .THE FOUNDATION................................................................................1 Introduction The Conceptual Framework Methodology Significance of the Study 2. THE NATION AND THE CHURCH................................................. 9 Swaziland Church of the Nazarene Nazarene Health Care 3. BEFORE AFRICA............................................................................. 45 The Early Years Her Calling Becoming a Nurse Her Missionary Appointment Preparing for Africa Her Journey 4. DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.....................................................63 In Africa Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Her First Year To Bremersdorp Training Nurses Aides Midwifery Certification Her Ordination Transitions Sister Tutor Diploma 5. DECADE OF ADVANCEMENT. Revelant Change More Missionary Nurses Nursing Education Special Times Time Passing Student Experiences Another Nursing Text 6. DECADE OF LEGACY ................ Swazi Nursing Moral Lessons Engculwini Writing a Legacy Member of the British Empire Needed Rest vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Green Gables Nursing Faculty Swaziland Independence Clinic Inspections The Fourth Nursing Manual Farewells Legacy of Swazi Nurses Going Home Formal Achievement Honors Mrs. Cook Legacy to the Profession Toward the Future Appendix 1. HUMAN SUBJECTS................................................................................. 192 2. MAPS.......................................................................................................... 197 3. OTHER NAZARENE MISSIONARY NURSES IN SWAZILAND 199 4. PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE....................................................... 205 5. MISSIONARY APPOINTMENT CERTIFICATE..................................206 6. 1965 NURSE AND MIDWIFERY ACT ................................................. 207 7. BRITISH GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE ................................ 209 8. EARLY SWAZI NURSE LEADERS........................................................211 9. CITATION.................................................................................................. 213 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 10. FAVORITE SONG 214 11. PHOTOGRAPHS 215 SOURCES CONSULTED 218 Personal Collection of Dorothy Davis Cook Church of the Nazarene Archives, Kansas City Church of the Nazarene Department of World Mission, Kansas City Church of the Nazarene Archives, Africa Royal College of Nursing Archives Interviews General Sources V lll Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. # CHAPTER ONE The Foundation Introduction On prominent display in London’s Florence Nightingale Museum, a placard reads, “On February 7, 1837,