There’s a new spotlight display in our London HQ, "It’s the little things: nursing pocket books", which brings together some of the smaller books and objects in the RCN’s collections.

Easy to slip into an apron or tunic, pocket books were made to “suppl[y] the information the nurse wants at the moment she needs it” (Nursing Times, 1950). They remain a popular aid to nursing education and practice, with many pocket series in print today.

The display spotlights different types of pocket book, such as dictionaries, diaries and devotional texts, dating from the early 20th century to the present. It explores their design, content, and how they’ve been used by nurses, revealing interesting themes and developments in the history of nursing.

Find the display on the lower ground floor of the library and museum at 20 Cavendish Square. Read about how it was put together by one of our graduates trainees in their blog.

Image: Students at desks, Acton Gazette, 1950s. RCN Archive.