The Danish Nurses' Organization elected Henriette Tscherning as its chairperson in 1899, a position she held until 1927. During her tenure, she transformed nursing from an informal occupation into a regulated profession, mandating theoretical and practical training standards that eventually secured official state authorization for practitioners across the Kingdom of Denmark.
Early Professional Development
Born in Copenhagen in 1853 to Theodor Schultz and Anna Margrathe Ipsen, Tscherning grew up in a household of ten children. At age 24, she chose to pursue nursing over domestic life. In 1878, she began her apprenticeship at the Municipal Hospital in Copenhagen under head physician Andreas Brünniche and matron Margaret Bahnson. By 1883, she studied at the Nightingale School at St Thomas' Hospital in London, returning to Denmark to advocate for standardized nursing education.
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After marrying surgeon Eilert Adam Tscherning in 1886, she balanced family life with her professional agenda, publishing a study on artificial infant nutrition in 1891. Upon leading the Danish Nurses' Organization, she shifted the power balance away from male physicians by insisting that nurses hold authority over their own working conditions. She successfully lobbied for systemic improvements, including a sickness insurance scheme in 1901, a funeral fund in 1905, and an old-age pension fund in 1919.
Standardizing Nursing Education
Tscherning worked to modernize nursing through a rigorous three-year compulsory curriculum. She promoted the publication of the 1926 Haandbog i Sygepleje by Charlotte Munck to provide a comprehensive training textbook. While the state-authorized examination for nursing practice was formally implemented in 1933, it was the direct result of her long-term campaign. She also expanded the professional scope by introducing advanced courses for senior nurses in 1921.
International Influence and Final Years
Her impact extended beyond Denmark, as she served as President of the International Council of Nurses from 1915 to 1922 and co-founded the Nurses Nordic Cooperative in 1920. In 1930, she oversaw the foundation of a residence for retired nurses, where she lived after retiring from the union in 1927. Her contributions were officially recognized with the Medal of Merit in Gold in 1918.
Fast facts
- Born: 1853, Copenhagen
- Died: 1932, Copenhagen
- Profession: Nurse and trade unionist
- Danish Nurses' Organization Chair: 1899-1927
- International Council of Nurses President: 1915-1922
- Award: Medal of Merit in Gold (1918)
- Children: Ellen Meggy, Anton Frederik, Karen, and Gudrun
Questions readers ask
What major educational change did Henny Tscherning introduce?
She championed a compulsory three-year training program that combined practical experience with theoretical study.
Where is Henny Tscherning buried?
She is buried in Hornbæk Cemetery.
Achievements
- Medal of Merit in Gold — 1918