Florence Nightengale Pledge.

Nurses General Nursing

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How many nurses out there still had to learn this pledge?? I did when I was in college and I was just wondering if anyone else had had to memorize it too.

Florence Nightingale Pledge

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.

There are other nursing pledges out there, and our class chose to read one of those at pinning. The Florence pledge is old fashioned because it was written by Florence!! The practice of nursing was very different back then. When I was in nursing school our program was getting ready to celebrate 50 years in existence. It got some of our faculty talking and they brought in some of their text books. None of them were more than an inch thick!!! I looked in envy at their books, and then down to my 75 pound rolling suitcase. Oh the horror!!

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I agree, it was written a long time ago by Florence. We had to recite it at our capping and pinning. I still have my hat and the card with the pledge on it, and the bible they gave us ya dee ya dee ya.

I read a book on Florence Nightingale called NIGHTINGALES by Gillian Gill. It actually was a good read.

It's funny how some of the posts don't agreewith the pledge, yet their quotes are all about compassion and such. I think the pledge was meant for a working nurse. I know when I'm done and ready for that cold one or a glass of wine outside of work doesn't involve any doctors I know

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

No we didn't have to learn it as we never uttered this at our pinning ceremony. Of course, our pinning was a quick event. Pins, awards, mini-speeches, appetizers!

It would have been nice had we done something traditional, but alas, alls well that ends well.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

I guess quite a lot of us have forgotten our nursing history or just didn't learn it. The old gal was a rebel in her time. She stepped out of the mold of her time. And she took nursing and made it a combination of art and science. And away from the whores and camp followers who had previously taken care of sick and injured people.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

.....

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I guess quite a lot of us have forgotten our nursing history or just didn't learn it. The old gal was a rebel in her time. She stepped out of the mold of her time. And she took nursing and made it a combination of art and science. And away from the whores and camp followers who had previously taken care of sick and injured people.

Woody:balloons:

Not necessarily. Florence is still taught in nursing schools and she remains an important figure. I studied her in both my ADN program and again in detail in my RN to BSN program.

I really admire how she was the first to show that nursing interventions separate from MD interventions can have positive outcomes and indeed save lifes.

However, there is much about her plege I find objectional to me as a nurse in 2007 and just because I don't plege to her God her plege doesn't mean I've forgotten her importance and place in history.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I am in disbelief at how sexist ... this FN pledge is.

I find the pledge objectionable and would decline to recite it myself. It's certainly outdated but I don't see how it's sexist in and of itself.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

we never had this,thankfully!

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Well, I went to Pensacola Christian College - where the old ways are maintained!! I think I agreed with it a little then, but looking at it now, I think I would not have enjoyed using this pledge,

Can someone else post one that they used and liked?

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I guess quite a lot of us have forgotten our nursing history or just didn't learn it. The old gal was a rebel in her time. She stepped out of the mold of her time. And she took nursing and made it a combination of art and science. And away from the whores and camp followers who had previously taken care of sick and injured people.

Woody:balloons:

I agree with you. Just this morning I was reading about her - this thread made me notice an article about her life.

She was a remarkable woman for her time . . . I can honor that.

steph

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Specializes in Operating Room.
We just read it off a piece of paper at the pinning ceremony.

Us too-although our version was tweaked a little. As a matter of fact, I don't think it was the Florence Nightingale one. This was ours:

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the prescence of this assembly to faithfully practice my profession of nursing. I will do all in my power to make and maintain the highest standards and practices of my profession

I will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping in the practice of my calling. I will devote myself to the welfare of my patients, my family and my community.

I will endeavor to fulfill my rights and privileges as a good citizen and take my share of responsibility in promoting the health and welfare of the community

I will constantly endeavor to increase my knowledge and skills in nursing and to use them wisely. I will zealously seek to nurse those who are ill wherever they may be and whenever they are in need.

I will be active in assisting others in safegaurding and promoting the health and happiness of mankind.

I actually like this one better, I think. Doesn't make nurses sound like naughty school children who have to keep their "mischevious" sides in line. It also doesn't make nurses out to be the "handmaidens" of physicians. Ours was listed on the pinning program as the "Nurses Pledge". I don't know who wrote it.

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Witchy, I do like that one better, it keeps the same spirit but updates the language for the times. Thanks for sharing.

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