Florence Nightingale has been a tremondous influence on me. I first learned of her in a history class where she set up the hospital in the Crimean war. Later I learned the whole story about the Crimean war and F. Nightingale's contribution to public health and statistics. When I went to London, I did view her museum but realized I found her story elusive. What was she really like to the people of her generation?
Here is an internet address which shows an article about F.N. in Frank Leslie's Monthly and Gazette of Fashion, a women's magazine in May 1862 (around the time that F.N.'s Notes on Nursing was published in the US.) This is a primary source that details how she was presented to American women by a national magazine of the period.
My education was lacking because I definitely thought she was American and served in the Civil War. My son, who was 6 or 7, set me straight after reading a Magic Treehouse book featuring Florence.
Quick! Quick! Wonder how many other nurses reading this post can name just 3 other famous historic nurses who made significant impact on the education and/or practice of professional nsg as it exists today.
I have 3 favorites. Edith Cavell, the only nurse ever executed during war time. The US President and even the Pope tried to intercede for her pardon, but she was executed for her terrible! treasonous crime of providing care to Allied prisoners.
I also favor Dorothea Dix, mental health advocate in the 1800s. Responsible for founding several mental health facilities, incl Trenton Psychiatric Hospital in Trenton, NJ. Did my first student psych rotation there. Had a VERY moving experience there that influenced my opinion of P/MH services.
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. When one thinks of the services that ARC provides everyday to victims of disasters locally, it is humbling to know that she fought for the organization. (As a silly aside, there is also a rest stop named for her on the NJ Turnpike - I find that amusing!) I even taught Amer Red Cross Community CPR/First Aid to volunteer.
And there are others I admire. Nurses and other non-nsg proponents.
I don't know if too many other nurses, esp younger ones, are even marginally familiar with historical nsg figures. And that's a loss for them and our rich collective history.
londonflo- You asked for thoughts on Flo. She brought order & hygiene & respectability to nsg using scientific processes. Knowing the state of the profession PRIOR to her interventions, she performed miracles!
I'm guessing she means very much to you AEB by your screen name here, yes? TY for bringing up this post
So many of the reforms that Nightingale sought in health care (nursing being a major part of it) required political change, sometimes legislation, sometimes new regulations and sometimes increased budget.
Politics was part of Nightingale’s own upbringing. Her mother’s father, William Smith, was a radical MP who worked with Wilberforce on the abolition of slavery. Her brother-in-law and various cousins were Liberal MPs. Her own father ran once, unsuccessfully, for the Liberal Party. She was both a Liberal Party supporter, lifelong, and a small-l liberal in her views.
Legislation for workhouse reform: Nightingale submitted a comprehensive brief to the “Cubic Space Committee” studying workhouses, and did much behind the scenes on the legislation itself.
Petitions to Parliament -signed the first petition to Parliament for the vote for women
The nurses who seemed to achieve the most appear to have been political activists. Or they knew how to work within the political systems of the day. Or with connections. Or the money (yes, some were of wealthy patronage). Many were personal risk-takers.
It's very touching to see how the British hold her in such esteem. I saw her statue at the Crimean War museum where it's placed in a large traffic circle. There is also a granite plaque devoted to her in the crypt in St. Paul's. It is placed between the graves of Lord Nelson and Lord Wellington.
I read that she preferred the company of men over women
She was very close to her sister. She may have drifted toward powerful men as they could help her with her mission. She was very politically astute. She did advocate for women to get the vote by writing a pamphlet in favor of it. When she was younger (pre nursing) she did socialize with groups of friends.
Quote
Nightingale succeeded in improving the status of nurses, from being a “domestic” service occupation in the 1861 Census, to being grouped with “medicine” in 1901 In the army, nurses became “officers,” like doctors.
londonflo
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I always wondered if Cherry had a hard time holding a job or was a job hopper!