Richards entered the first class at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, making her the first student.
On September 1, 1872, Linda Richards entered the nursing school at the New England Hospital for Women and Children as its first student. This marked her place in history as she pioneered a path for systematic nurse training within the United States. The program, inspired by the principles laid out by Florence Nightingale, emphasized structured medical care and nurse education, forming the bedrock of modern nursing practice in America. By engaging in this first cohort, Richards broke social norms of the era where nursing was largely informal, paving the way for future programs and the professionalization of healthcare.