Florence
Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing, who revolutionized
healthcare practices and established nursing as a respected profession. Her
contributions to nursing, patient care, and healthcare reforms continue to
inspire nurses worldwide. This article will discuss Florence Nightingale's life
and her notable contributions to modern nursing.
BACKGROUND
- Florence Nightingale was a British nurse, social reformer, and statistician born on May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy.
- She was the second daughter of William Edward Nightingale and Frances Smith Nightingale.
- Her parents were wealthy British citizens, and they encouraged their children to pursue intellectual and cultural interests.
- She was raised in a wealthy English family and wanted to become a nurse to serve the poor and sick, but her parents initially refused.
- Despite her family's objections, Florence Nightingale decided to pursue a career in nursing.
- In 1851, she travelled to Germany to study nursing at the Kaiserswerth Institute. She spent several months there learning about patient care, hygiene practices, and hospital administration.
- After returning to England, Florence Nightingale worked as a nurse at various hospitals, and she became the superintendent of a hospital for "gentlewomen" in London.
- She also conducted research and wrote articles on healthcare reform and nursing practices.
- In 1854, she was recruited to lead a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. Her experiences during the war led her to become a leading advocate for nursing education and healthcare reform.
- Florence became famous for her work during the Crimean War where she and her team of nurses improved the conditions of British army hospitals and care for injured soldiers.
- With the help of a sanitary commission sent by the British government, Florence lowered the death rate of hospitalized soldiers by providing clean water, promoting frequent hand washing, and establishing appropriate sanitation measures.
- Florence Nightingale was known to carry a lamp and walk through the wards at night, providing comfort to soldiers, earning her the nickname "Lady with the Lamp."
- After the war, Florence continued to work as a social reformer and healthcare advocate by improving military hospitals, educating new nurses, promoting public health, and contributing to the field of statistics.
- She developed an early form of a pie chart, called a Coxcomb chart, to easily convey mortality rates and was the first female to become a member of the Royal Statistical Society.
- Florence Nightingale died on August 13, 1910, and her family followed her wishes for a small funeral and burial in her family's plot in Hampshire, England.
HER
IMPACT ON THE NURSING PROFESSION
- Florence Nightingale improved the health of wounded soldiers during the Crimean War by showing that clean water, sanitation measures, and a healthy diet reduced death rates from preventable infectious diseases.
- Her findings were presented to Queen Victoria in 1856, leading to a Royal Commission that implemented many improvements across the British military medical system.
- Many basic infection control practices and evidence-based practices aimed at reducing nosocomial infections can be traced back to Florence's methods.
- Florence Nightingale opened the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1860 to train more nurses and helped transform nursing into an honorable profession.
- Modern nursing science can trace its roots to the legacy of hygienic standards, injury treatment, and health promotion Florence Nightingale developed and taught.
- The current model of nursing care as a holistic, individual-centered approach can also be attributed to Florence Nightingale’s influence.
- Her principle of treating each person with dignity and respect, regardless of their social class, occupation, or condition, is still important in the nursing profession today.
- Florence's method of assessing each person’s injuries or illness within their individual context and developing a plan to help them heal is seen in today’s nursing process of assessing, creating nursing diagnoses, planning and implementing interventions, and evaluating the results.
NIGHTINGALE’S
ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY
- Florence Nightingale developed an environmental theory called the "Health of Houses" to promote health and healing.
- The theory focuses on five important factors that can be improved to promote health: pure air, pure water, efficient drainage, cleanliness, and light.
- This theory considers how a person's surroundings can affect their course of illness or maintenance of wellness.
- Florence described this theory in two books, Notes on Hospitals (1859) and Notes on Nursing (1860), which are still being published today.
- In these publications, Florence emphasized the importance of hygiene standards, fresh air, nutritious diet, and adequate sleep and exercise for promoting public health.
- Florence's environmental theory remains relevant today, as hospitals and other facilities are designed with individuals in mind, and nurses plan and manage care to achieve positive outcomes.
- The theory is a holistic approach that considers both the individual and their environment.
- Nurses can use evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and cultural fluency to ensure the best outcomes for individuals.
- Many aspects of modern nursing, from basic infection control to formal nurse training, can be traced back to Florence Nightingale.
- The foundational tenet of nursing that is owed to Florence Nightingale is devotion to the welfare of those under their care.
- This sentiment is
summed up in the last line of the nursing code of ethics known as "The
Nightingale Pledge" that reads “to be devoted towards the
welfare of those committed to my care.”
- Technology advancements and new research will likely change how care is delivered, but nurses' dedication to their patients will remain timeless.
MOST
IMPORTANT FACTS & CONTRIBUTIONS IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING
Florence
Nightingale's contributions to modern nursing were numerous and far-reaching.
Her lasting impact on nursing and healthcare is evident in the many ways that
she helped to shape the profession, including:
- Establishment
of the first professional training school for nurses:
Nightingale's establishment of the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at
St. Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860 revolutionized nursing education and set
the standard for modern nursing training.
- Emphasis
on patient care and hygiene practices: Nightingale's emphasis
on patient care and hygiene practices, including handwashing and maintaining
clean and sanitary environments, helped to reduce the spread of disease and
infection in healthcare settings.
- Advocacy
for healthcare reform: Nightingale's advocacy for
healthcare reform and public health initiatives helped to raise public
awareness and led to significant improvements in healthcare practices and
standards.
- Use
of statistics in healthcare: Nightingale's use of
statistics to track mortality rates and other health outcomes helped to
establish the importance of evidence-based practices in healthcare.
- Promotion
of nursing as a respected profession: Nightingale's advocacy
for nursing as a respected and recognized profession helped to elevate the
status of nurses and set the foundation for modern nursing practices.
Florence
Nightingale's contributions to nursing and healthcare continue to have a
lasting impact on the profession today. Her emphasis on nursing education,
patient care, and hygiene practices, advocacy for healthcare reform, use of
statistics in healthcare, and promotion of nursing as a respected profession
set the standard for modern nursing practices and helped to improve healthcare
outcomes for patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Florence
Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, made significant contributions to
nursing and healthcare. She introduced innovations in nursing practices,
established the first professional training school for nurses, and advocated
for healthcare reform. Her use of statistics and promotion of nursing as a
respected profession set the standard for modern nursing practices and improved
healthcare outcomes. Nightingale's legacy continues to inspire and shape the
nursing profession today.
REFERENCES
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“The lady with the lamp” and her contributions to modern nursing - UT Health
Science Center Library [Internet]. UT Health Science Center Library. 2015
Available from:
https://library.uthscsa.edu/2015/02/the-lady-with-the-lamp-and-her-contributions-to-modern-nursing/#:~:text=The%20foundations%20of%20nursing%20practiced,process%20like%20the%20medical%20field.
- Dhar A. Florence Nightingale and Nursing in Colonial India. Vidyasagar University Journal of History [Internet]. 2017 ;VI:96–104. Available from: http://inet.vidyasagar.ac.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/4505/1/Aparajita%20Dhar.pdf
- Dumitrascu DI, David L, Dumitrascu DL, Rogozea L. Florence Nightingale bicentennial: 1820-2020. Her contributions to health care improvement. Medicine and Pharmacy Reports [Internet]. 2020 Sep 22; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7664726/#:~:text=Beside%20nursing%20and%20military%20and,for%20social%20equality%20%5B1%5D.
- Florence Nightingale – Biography, Facts & Nursing [Internet]. History.com. 2022 [cited 2023 Apr 20]. Available from: https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/florence-nightingale-1
- Florence Nightingale and Contribution to Modern Nursing - 1440 Words | Coursework Example [Internet]. Free Essays. 2022 [cited 2023 Apr 20]. Available from: https://ivypanda.com/essays/florence-nightingale-and-contribution-to-modern-nursing/
- Florence Nightingale: The queen of nurses. ResearchGate [Internet]. 2020; Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303747757_Florence_Nightingale_The_queen_of_nurses#:~:text=Her%20multitasked%20role%20contributed%20significantly,autonomy%20and%20evidence%2Dbased%20practice.
- Florence Nightingale: Who is She, Her Role in Nursing, and More | Osmosis [Internet]. Osmosis. 2019. Available from: https://www.osmosis.org/answers/florence-nightingale
- University B. Florence Nightingale: Modern Nursing Pioneer | Bradley University Online [Internet]. Bradley University Online. 2018 [cited 2023 Apr 20]. Available from: https://onlinedegrees.bradley.edu/blog/florence-nightingale-founder-of-modern-nursing/
- Winkelstein W. Florence Nightingale. Epidemiology [Internet]. 2009;20(2):311. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/epidem/Fulltext/2009/03000/Florence_Nightingale__Founder_of_Modern_Nursing.25.aspx?WT.mc_id=HPxADx20100319xMP
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