Florence Nightingale's Birthday: World's Most Famous Nurse
Nursing has certainly come a long way since the time of Florence Nightingale. We should not forget the courage and perseverance of the Lady with the Lamp who remains the most famous nurse in history. This inspirational figure helped to transform nursing into the highly respected profession it is today.
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As part of our pinning ceremonies in nursing school, we all probably remember reciting the Nightingale Pledge, a modified "Hippocratic Oath" composed in 1893 by Mrs. Lystra E. Gretter and a Committee for the Farrand Training School for Nurses, Detroit, Michigan. The pledge is as follows:
Quote
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.
Since today is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, I thought it would be a good time to look back at the life of the woman considered to be the founder of modern nursing.
Early Life
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in Italy into an affluent, upper-class, well-connected British family. Although her mother, Francis, who came from a family of merchants was interested in social-climbing, Florence, the younger of two daughters, was reportedly awkward in social situations. Florence's father, William Edward Nightingale, was a wealthy landowner and provided Florence with a classical education, including studies in mathematics, German, Italian, and French.
Florence, who was strong-willed, often butted heads with her overly controlling mother. Instead of socializing with the upper-class females in her mother's circle, Florence was always interested in ministering to the ill and poor people in the village which bordered her family's estate. It was clear to Florence when she was 16 that nursing was her calling. At that time, nursing was seen as menial and lowly labor - certainly not an honorable profession. Her upper-class parents wanted her to marry someone respectable.
Education
At age 24, Florence defied her parents' wishes and left England to enroll as a nursing student at the Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserwerth, Düsseldorf Germany. Upon her return to England in the early 1850's, she took a job at a London Hospital. After her impressive work there, she was promoted to superintendent after only a year.
Florence Nightingale became known as a reformer and advocator for public health due to her work at greatly improving sanitary conditions after an outbreak of cholera.
Crimean War - "Lady with the Lamp"
Florence became a living legend as the "Lady with the Lamp". Her work during the Crimean War from 1854 until 1856 was well-known as she led nurses who cared for thousands of soldiers. She and her team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital, reducing the death count by two-thirds, which helped save the British army from medical disaster. She was also a visionary health reformer, a brilliant campaigner, the most influential woman in Victorian Britain and its Empire, second only to Queen Victoria herself. Upon Florence Nightingale's return from the Crimean War, the Queen rewarded her work by presenting her with an engraved brooch that came to be known as the "Nightingale Jewel" and by granting her a prize of $250,000 from the British government.
Achievements
Florence Nightingale's greatest achievement was to make nursing a respectable profession for women. Her writings on hospital planning and organization had a profound effect in England and across the world. She published over 200 books, reports and pamphlets. Florence died at the age of 90, on 13th August 1910. She became one of the most famous and influential women of the 19th century. Her writings continue to be a resource for nurses, health managers and planners to this day.
Nursing has certainly come a long way since the time of Florence Nightingale. We should not forget the courage and perseverance of the Lady with the Lamp who remains the most famous nurse in history. This inspirational figure helped to transform nursing into the highly respected profession it is today.
Happy Birthday, Flo!
More Fun Facts! Watch Florence Nightingale - Mini Biography...
Trivia questions for you....
How did Florence Nightingale get her nickname, "The Lady With the Lamp"?
What was her sister's name?
What animal did Florence Nightingale carry with her, even when doing hospital rounds?
Was Florence Nightingale ever married?
What is the name of the nursing school Florence Nightingale opened in 1860?
How did Florence Nightingale get her name?
What was the cause of death for Florence Nightingale?
