Zepherina Smith
Zepherina Philadelphia Smith (née Zepherina Philadelphia Veitch; 1 April 1836 – 8 February 1894) was an English nurse and social reformer who promoted increased education and training for midwives. Her work led to the Royal College of Midwives. Early life Smith was born in Sopley and was the daughter of the Reverend William Douglas Veitch. He was the vicar of St Saviour's church in Paddington. Her parents were very interested in issues affecting the working class, an interest that she later developed. In 1867 she was trained as a nurse at the University College, London. Career Early in her nursing service, she was put in charge of the surgical ward of King's College Hospital and served as the superintendent of nurses at St George's Hospital. In 1870 she served as a nurse in Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War. She was known for her ability to improvise when lacking the resources of a hospital. That year she also wrote A Handbook for Nursing the Sick, which was well received by her fellow nurses. In 1873 she became qualified as a midwife. She was dismayed by the small amount of training many of her fellow midwives had received. She then worked with