Manitoba Nurse: Margaret Elder Hart

hartMargaret Elder Hart was a 1930 graduate of Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing. Convinced that education was a prime factor in advancing the practice of nursing, she obtained B.Sc., M.A., Ed.D, and LL.D. degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Hart returned to Manitoba, where she was well known for her pioneer work in Public Health Nursing and for developing programs in public health and administration.

Dr. Hart was Director of the School of Nursing from 1948 until her retirement in 1972. She was instrumental in developing the first four-year baccalaureate program in Manitoba, and a two-year degree program for registered nurses. As early as the 1960's, she submitted the first proposal for a Master of Nursing program. Many graduate students have benefitted from The Margaret Elder Hart Graduate Study Scholarship in Nursing which was established in 1972. Dr. Hart was active in the provincial nursing association, a charter member and Honorary Member (1972) of CAUSN, a founding member of the National League for Nursing, fellow of the American Public Health Association, and fellow of the Royal Society of Health. 

Her many awards include the Manitoba Medal, Canada Centennial medal, and the MARN Award for Excellence in Nursing Education (1986). The Margaret Elder Hart Distinguished Lecture Series was established in 1991. To mark the 50th anniversary of the faculty of Nursing, Dr. Hart was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws Degree by the University of Manitoba. The Dr. Margaret Elder Hart Heritage Room bears her name in recognition of her contribution to nursing education and her lifelong interest in nursing history.

1930                Graduated Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing.
1935 Private duty nursing.
1938 Public health nursing, Brooklyn Visiting Nurse Service, Brooklyn, New York.  
1940 Bachelor of Science, Columbia University, New York, New York. Educational Director, Bureau of Public Health Nursing, Manitoba Department of Health and Public Welfare, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1946 Master of Arts, Columbia University, New York, New York.
1948 Professor and Director, School of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 
1962 Doctor of Education, Columbia University, New York, New York.  
1963 Director, First Nursing Baccalaureate Program in Manitoba, University of Manitoba. 
1967 Confederation Canada Centennial Medal. 
1968 Honourary President, Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association.  
1970 Manitoba Historical Society Centennial Medal. 
1972 Honourary Membership, Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses. The Margaret Elder Hart Graduate Study Scholarship in Nursing established in the School of Nursing, The University of Manitoba.
1982 Professor Emeritus, The University of Manitoba. 
1984  Honourary Memebership, Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, Western Region. 
1986 Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses Award for Excellence in Nursing Education. 
1991 Margaret Elder Hart Distinguished Lecture Series established in the School of Nursing, The University of Manitoba.
1993 Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), The University of Manitoba. 

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Photo: University of Manitoba Imaging Services