The first paid secretary of the International Council of Nurses, Christiane Reimann, fundamentally shifted the global standing of her profession during the early twentieth century. Beyond her administrative influence, she achieved the distinction of being the first Danish nurse to earn a graduate degree, setting a precedent for academic rigor that transformed the field of nursing training.
Early Education and Professional Development
Born on 6 May 1888 in Copenhagen to Carl Reimann and Margit Meisterlin, she pursued nursing training at Bispebjerg Hospital starting at age 25, against the objections of her family. She completed her three-year training in 1916. Seeking further expertise, she relocated to New York to enroll at Columbia University. Under the guidance of Mary Adelaide Nutting and Isabel Stewart, she successfully earned a Bachelor of Science in 1921, followed by a Master of Arts in 1925.
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In 1922, Reimann secured election as secretary of the International Council of Nurses while Sophie Mannerheim held the presidency. By 1925, she assumed the role of Executive Secretary, becoming the first individual to receive a salary for the position. Her tenure focused on elevating the organization as a recognized international authority. She facilitated nursing advisory services for health authorities and governments, while utilizing her personal wealth to travel across Europe to engage with council members.
Communications and Advocacy
Reimann invested heavily in the infrastructure of nursing communication. She personally funded the establishment of an official periodical, initially titled The Bulletin, which eventually evolved into the International Nursing Review. These publications served as essential tools for disseminating standards and fostering professional connections among global practitioners. Her active involvement continued until 1934, when health complications and internal policy disagreements led to her resignation.
Later Years and Legacy
Following her departure from the council, she married Wilhelm F. C. Alter in 1934. She relocated to Syracuse, Sicily, where she acquired property and lived until her death on 12 April 1979. Before her passing, she founded the Christiane Reimann Prize, intended as a premier honor for the field. The prize was first awarded in 1985 to Virginia Henderson, with subsequent recipients including Dame Nita Barrow, Dame Sheila Quinn, Dr. Mo-Im Kim, Dr. Hildegard Peplau, Dr. Margretta Madden Styles, Dr. Máximo A. González Jurado, Kirsten Stallknecht, Dr. Sheila Tlou, Dr. Linda Aiken, and Dr. Sheuan Lee.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 May 1888, Copenhagen
- Died: 12 April 1979, Syracuse, Sicily
- Occupation: Nurse
- Citizenship: Danish, Italian
- Graduate education: Columbia University, BS 1921, MA 1925
- International Council of Nurses Secretary: 1922–1934
- Spouse: Wilhelm F. C. Alter
Questions readers ask
What was the Christiane Reimann Prize intended for?
She created the award to serve as a high-level honor for the nursing profession, first presented in 1985.
Why did she leave the International Council of Nurses?
She resigned in 1934 due to poor health and disagreements with other members of the organization.
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