What does Florence Nightingale mean to you?

Hancock330 · May 16, 2012

Florence Nightingale was the person I know of who first defined nursing as putting the patient in the best possible condition to heal. Is that not much of what nurses do today? We have many more tools, and many more chemicals to help -- but, we still try to provide "good air to breathe"; a sanitary environment -- especially a clean room; a good, balanced diet; good fluids in adequate amounts to drink; appropriate amounts of rest and activity; light; a clean, smooth bed to rest and sleep on; seclusion when desired or necessary; and carefully made and recorded observations to provide needed information to prescribers when they see the patient.

Asystole RN · May 17, 2012

A wealthy, bigot, racist who made a significant contribution to nursing in helping to define the profession. I believe her stature in the profession is largely due to her societal status and being of the appropriate race. This is not to say that she was a bad person, simply a person of her time. I do not think nursing would be what it is today without her. That being said, I think other nurses such as Mary Seacole had just as much influence on defining modern nursing as Nightingale.

Kadambari · May 19, 2012

Asystole RN said:
A wealthy, bigot, racist who made a significant contribution to nursing in helping to define the profession. I believe her stature in the profession is largely due to her societal status and being of the appropriate race. This is not to say that she was a bad person, simply a person of her time. I do not think nursing would be what it is today without her. That being said, I think other nurses such as Mary Seacole had just as much influence on defining modern nursing as Nightingale.

How was she racist?

netglow, ASN, RN · May 19, 2012

What does Flo mean to me?

Not much. Didn't know her personally :). I have no interest in finding heros or anything like that, tho. Just see no purpose in it.

Asystole RN · May 19, 2012

\ said:
How was she racist?

Read about her clinics in the Crimean War and what kind of people were invited and who were refused to work with her. A hint, look into the history of Mary Seacole.

Florence was not a huge fan of "colored" folks, nor was she a fan of those coming from a lower social class than herself.

That being said, she was a product of her time.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2012

And don't forget --- an exemplar of how to live with chronic fatigue syndrome.

SleeepyRN · Mar 4, 2013

Asystole RN said:
A wealthy, bigot, racist who made a significant contribution to nursing in helping to define the profession. I believe her stature in the profession is largely due to her societal status and being of the appropriate race. This is not to say that she was a bad person, simply a person of her time. I do not think nursing would be what it is today without her. That being said, I think other nurses such as Mary Seacole had just as much influence on defining modern nursing as Nightingale.

Ditto

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Mar 5, 2013

An advocate for those who most deemed "undesirable". The "patron saint" of all those who are nurses to the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the drug addicted. And nurses capacity for compassion.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 5, 2013

\ said:
Florence Nightingale was a pioneer and important trailblazer that contributed a great deal to the nursing profession. However I wish that Mary E. Mahoney the first black professional nurse, could also be recognized for her contributions.

^This! While Flo is recognized, people like Mary Seacole and Mary E. Majoney are equally important...as well as the nursing theorists of our current time that help get our profession to the next level.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Mar 7, 2013

The last time I was in London I tried to visit the Florence Nightingale Museum, only to find after it was closed during a time that it was normally open. I will try again on my next trip across the pond.