Florence Nightigale was born in a wealthy English Family, on 12th May 1820. As she grew up, she became interested in people and in politics. She had a great desire to become a nurse though her parents were not keen on her becoming one. She was dissatisfied with the dealt routine lifestyle of the upoer class women of their days. She had an active mind and an interest in her surrounding beyond household socials and events. She had received a classical education equal to that of men of her day. This education provided her with an understanding of the circumstances of the world in which she lived. She became aware of the inadequate care being provided in hospitals, when she accompanied her mother on visits to the ill. What she saw in the hospitals intrigued her and made her want to become more involved.
In 1846, in spite of the concerns of families and friends, Nightigale began to visit and care for the sick in her community. In addition, she visited hospitals in England and throughout Europe.
Out of her experiences she realized that nurses needed knowledge, training and discipline, if they were to be effective.
She learned about a nursing training program at Kaisersworth, Germany and in 1850, she was admitted to the training program. The three years training helped her to clarify what was lacking in the training of English nurses. After her training, in 1853 she was appointed as Superintendent of the Institution for the Care of the Sick Gentlewomen in London and started passing on the knowledge she had aquired.
She had her opportunity to deliver her best services during the Crimean War in 1854. Florence Nightigale and her nurses attended to thousands of wounded and dying soldiers.
Every night, she walked about with a lamp in her hand to help the suffering soldiers. At this time she helped them to write letters to their families and last messages for those who were dying. She was rightly known as "THE LADY WITH THE LAMP."
Through her efforts and the help of others, Nightingale introduced numerous improvements in the military hospital in Britain. Her efforts were largely responsible for traumatic reductions in the war time death rate of British soldiers (42% to 2%)
She also founded the first training school for nurses (St. Thomas Hospital, London) in 1860.
Through the publication of countless articles and papers, she shared her ideas about nursing and nursing education. She was the first to mention "Holism" (treating the whole patient) in nursing and the first person who stated that "a unique body of knowledge is required to practice professional nursing.
After the war, she worked so hard to bring about better health conditions in the British army. She was the founder of modern nursing education. She established the Army Medical School at the Fort Pitt. Despite her ill health she worked for the development of nursing services without taking sufficient rest.
In recognition of her meritorious help to mankind, she was offered the Order of Merit in 1907. She was the first lady recipient of such an award.
She died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 90 (13th May 1910).
The nodified hippocratic oath arranged by Mrs. Lystra E. Gretter and her committee for the Farrand training school for nurses was named in her honour "the FLORENCE NIGHTIGALE PLEDGE" as a token of esteem and respect for the founder of modern nursing.
SHE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS THE MOTHER AND FOUNDER OF MODERN NURSING.
This is a true life story of Florence Nightingale.
I love it and reading it and seeing how nursing has evolved makes me proud to be a nurse.
Thanks for reading..