Meet My friend Florence Nightingale

When I was a nursing student, I sadly didn't pay much attention to Florence Nightingale, the founder of the nursing profession and the woman known as "The Lady with the Lamp." I didn’t even fully understand what that meant. It wasn’t until I progressed in my nursing career that I learned about her incredible dedication and contributions to the field. Unfortunately, nurses were not consistently recognized for their hard work and commitment until President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in 1982 for a National Recognition Day for Nurses on May 6th. This later expanded to a week-long celebration in 1990. Today, nurses across all healthcare settings are honored from May 6th to May 12th.

Early in my career, I found my friend Florence Nightingale in a book about her life that my daughter gave me. She was devoted and forward-thinking, knew that to lead is to act with integrity and honesty, and was committed to serving her patients. What a gift I have been given to champion nurses and remind them of the difference they make every day, just as Florence Nightingale did in 1854.

In 1854, Florence Nightingale, who had only three months of nurse training, arrived at the Barrack Hospital in Scutari, Turkey, to care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. She faced a huge challenge; the hospital’s conditions were so terrible that almost half the soldiers admitted died from cholera and typhus.

During her time, Florence Nightingale was forced to work in unsanitary conditions with hostel doctors and government officials who lacked an understanding of proper. She responded with quick actions and a focus on cleanliness and sanitation, which resulted in a significant drop in mortality rates. Nightingale's primary achievement was nursing care reform for British soldiers, which earned her gratitude and adoration from her country. She went on to establish a nursing school and used data to advocate for hospital reform, insisting that data was crucial for ensuring patients received the care they needed and deserved. Known as the Lady of the Lamp, Nightingale made rounds every evening to check on wounded soldiers with her lamp.

Florence has sat on my shoulder many times in my nursing career, reminding me that our patients must always come first. We must always come first in our dedication, knowledge, compassion and integrity. (and we must)

“Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work.” – Florence Nightingale

Happy Nurses Week!