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Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale was a truly inspirational nurse. She is famous for her nursing work during the Crimean War (1854 - 56). She changed the face of nursing from a mostly untrained profession to a highly skilled and well-respected medical profession with very important responsibilities. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy on 12 May 1820. Her father was a wealthy landowner. She was brought up in Derbyshire (where she spent her summers) and Hampshire ( where she spent her winters).
Early life
Florence was named after the place of her birth..At the time when Florence was born, many girls did not receive any type of education. Florence was very lucky because her father, William Nightingale, believed that all women should receive an education. He taught Florence and her sister a variety of subjects ranging from science and mathematics to history and philosophy. As Florence grew up she developed an interest in helping others. She cared for sick pets and servants whenever she had the chance.
At seventeen years of age, she believed she was called into service by God “to do something toward lifting the load of suffering from the helpless and miserable.”At first, her parents refused to allow her to become a nurse because, at that time, it was not thought to be a suitable profession for a well-educated woman. But Florence did not give up. Eventually, in 1851 her father gave his permission and Florence went to Germany to train as a nurse. In 1853 was running a hospital in London.
Crimean War
In 1854 Florence Nightingale was asked to go to Turkey to manage the nursing of British soldiers wounded in the Crimean War (1854 - 56). She found the hospital conditions to be in a very poor state. Many of the wounded were unwashed and were sleeping in overcrowded, dirty rooms without blankets or decent food. Most soldiers died from infections and diseases.
Florence and her nurses changed these conditions. They were then able to properly care for the ill and wounded and the death rate among the soldiers dropped.
She would often visit the soldiers at night when everyone was asleep just to make sure they were ok. She was then referred to as “The Lady with the Lamp” because she hardly took time off to sleep. Florence became a true hero to the soldiers and everyone back home in England.
Florence and her nurses changed these conditions. They were then able to properly care for the ill and wounded and the death rate among the soldiers dropped.
She would often visit the soldiers at night when everyone was asleep just to make sure they were ok. She was then referred to as “The Lady with the Lamp” because she hardly took time off to sleep. Florence became a true hero to the soldiers and everyone back home in England.
Return to England
When she returned to England, she started a school in 1860 for nurses at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London.
She wrote her most important book Notes on Nursing which advised people how to care for the sick. It was written in simple language so that everybody could understand it.
In 1883, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria for her work. She then became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit, from King Edward VII in 1907.
On August 13, 1910, Florence Nightingale died.
When she returned to England, she started a school in 1860 for nurses at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London.
She wrote her most important book Notes on Nursing which advised people how to care for the sick. It was written in simple language so that everybody could understand it.
In 1883, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria for her work. She then became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit, from King Edward VII in 1907.
On August 13, 1910, Florence Nightingale died.
