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.
I gotta admit, the pledge stuck in my craw quite a bit when I recited it back in '84. I've seen some "updated" versions since then that I much prefer, including the one witchyRN shared.
In Flo's defense, she didn't write it! It was named for her as a gesture of respect and esteem, but she was not the author. I imagine the original version would stick in her craw, too.
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:
Woody, I think you'd like that book I mentioned. Maybe you have. She went thr so much beauracratic BS t go to the Crimeon War site and started doing nursing practices and teaching the other nurse how to sterilize the bandages etc, etc,
The first and last time I read this was at pinning. But I was laughing the whole time because I couldn't keep my darn candle to stay burning. It would light up, and then burn out. Again, and again.
I had one bum candle!
So, I really didn't recite much. To be honest-I couldn't pick that pledge out of a line-up.
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:
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?
This modified "Hippocratic Oath" was composed in1893 by Mrs. Lystra E. Gretter and a comitee for the Farrand Training School for Nurses, Detroit, MI. Itwas called the FNPledge as a token of esteem for the FOUNDER of modern nursing.
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 & will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain & elevate the standard of my profession,& willhold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping & 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, & devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Woody, I think you'd like that book I mentioned. Maybe you have. She went thr so much beauracratic BS t go to the Crimeon War site and started doing nursing practices and teaching the other nurse how to sterilize the bandages etc, etc,
Believe it or not, back in 1964 when I went to Brooklyn State Hospital, School of Nursing, we spent the first twelve weeks of our History of Nursing class studying the old gal and just what she went thru and how she changed nursing. The pledge may be a bit old fashion for many but I have always loved old things. Besides, you know the saying that goes something like this 'those that don't learn from the past or doomed to repeat it' or something like that.
Believe it or not, back in 1964 when I went to Brooklyn State Hospital, School of Nursing, we spent the first twelve weeks of our History of Nursing class studying the old gal and just what she went thru and how she changed nursing. The pledge may be a bit old fashion for many but I have always loved old things. Besides, you know the saying that goes something like this 'those that don't learn from the past or doomed to repeat it' or something like that.
Woody:balloons:
I agree . .. again. And I think we have to look at this pledge in context of the times - and that "mischievous" most likely didn't mean stuff 2 year olds did.
2 a: able or tending to cause annoyance, trouble, or minor injury
I personally think, with all the threads here on allnurses about nurses being mean to other nurses, this would be a good pledge for new nurses to recite.
I got pinned recently and this is the one we had to recite:
"In the full knowledge of the task I am undertaking, I promise to take care of the sick with all the skill and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status, sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate suffering, and promote health.
I will respect at all times the dignity and religious beliefs of the patients entrusted in my care, holding in confidence all personal information enrusted to me and refraining from any action which might endanger life or health.
I will endeavor to keep my professional knowlege and skill at the highest level and give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health team."
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,
When I was a kidlet, Daddy was assigned to Whiting Field. We lived in Milton for a couple of years and in Dickerson City, south of Bagdad on Garcon point (before I-10 was built).
I can imagine that they do keep to the old ways in that area.
And I think we have to look at this pledge in context of the times - and that "mischievous" most likely didn't mean stuff 2 year olds did. 
elkpark
14,633 Posts
I gotta admit, the pledge stuck in my craw quite a bit when I recited it back in '84. I've seen some "updated" versions since then that I much prefer, including the one witchyRN shared.
In Flo's defense, she didn't write it! It was named for her as a gesture of respect and esteem, but she was not the author. I imagine the original version would stick in her craw, too.