Caitlin Hall

407107

CNA149 – Essay

Florence Nightingale and her contribution to the profession of nursing,

how she crated change and her lasting legacy on nursing.

Florence Nightingale, also known as the 'Lady with the Lamp,’ is considered the
founder of modern nursing and is one of the most influential historical figures in
nursing to this day; she essentially ‘established the profession’ (RNCentral, 2003).
Florence Nightingale was born to wealthy English parents in 1820, in Florence, Italy
(Dossey, 2009). Florence entered nursing in 1844 because she believed she had a
‘calling’. This defied her parent’s wishes at the time, as nursing was considered a job for
the lower class (Bostridge, 2011). Her ambition led her into the hellish world of
Crimean warfare and as a result, a journey that would transform nursing and hospitals
around the world (Bostridge, 2011). Fccccc cccccc dcdsc dssd cs vfvf

‘’Florence Nightingale's most famous contribution came during the Crimean War’’
(McDonald, 2010). In 1854, Florence arrived at the Barracks Hospital in Scutari, Turkey.
When she first entered the hospital she was appalled; she saw the wounded soldiers as
they lay on straw mats and the floor covered in dirt and blood (Vermont, 2016). The
wards were immensely overcrowded, “patients were covered with rags soiled with
dried blood and excrement, the water supply was contaminated, and the food
inedible” (Baly, 1998). Because of the unsanitary and contaminated conditions, more
soldiers were dying from infectious diseases like typhoid and cholera, rather than from
the injuries that were sustained during the battle. Florence quickly got into action. She
devoted her life to producing appropriate and sanitary conditions for the soldiers. She
started by scrubbing the hospital from floor to ceiling, and then Florence and the other
nurses began to bathe the patients and wash their clothes. The soldiers, who were
both moved and consoled by Florence’s endless support and compassion, began to call
her ‘the Lady with the Lamp,’ whilst others simply called her ‘the Angel of the Crimea.’
The nickname ‘Lady with the Lamp’ came from the soldiers who Florence would take

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407107

care of during the night when the medial officers retired for the night; she would go to
each wounded soldier to give them aid and comfort, whilst she carried a lamp so she
could see them, and they could see her. Dcs csdcdc dcdc dc dcs \cc hey hi hello in he la

Florence addressed the more ‘basic problems’ by the commencement of safe and
sanitary food and water and ventilating the wards often (Baly, 1998), she also
contributed much of her own funds towards improving the sanitation at the hospital.
Within six months of the transitioning of the hospital, fatality had dropped two per
cent. (Baly, 1998) In addition to her immensely improving the sanitary conditions of the
hospital, Florence also created a number of patient services that contributed to
improving the quality of ones hospital stay. (Weebly, 2013) Florence instituted the
creation of an ‘invalid’s kitchen’, this is where appealing food for patients with dietary
requirements was cooked. She also established a laundry so the patients had clean
linens and she also instituted a classroom and library for the patients ‘intellectual
stimulation and entertainment.’ (Weebly, 2013) as at no on my you in the

Florence Nightingale wrote the first nursing notes that became the basis of nursing
practice and research (Pulliam, 2014), the notes entitled Notes on Nursing: What it is,
What is not (1860). These notes contained some of her theories, which have served as
foundations of nursing practice in countless settings (Pulliam, 2014). Florence is
considered the first nursing theorist. One of her biggest and most successful theories
was the ‘Environmental Theory.’ In the box in my hoop is low in y

The Environmental Theory defined nursing as “the act of utilizing the environment of
the patient to assist them in their recovery” (Wayne, 2015). ‘It involves the nurse’s
initiative to configure environmental settings appropriate for the gradual restoration of
the patient’s health, and that external factors associated with the patient’s

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surroundings affect life or biologic and physiologic processes, and their development.’
(Wayne, 2015) Florence believed that with providing patients with a suitable
environment was the difference in the recovery of patients. She also believed that the
factors for maintaining a suitable environment are: ventilation, cleaning, lighting, heat,
noise and odours (Medeiros et al., 2015) Florence Nightingale’s ‘Environmental Theory’
of Nursing is a patient-care theory. The main focus is in the modification of the
patient’s environment in order to affect change in ones health and ‘caring for the
patient is crucial’ (Medeiros et al., 2015). Omgomgomg omg in low sky

Florence Nightingale founded the world's first professional school of nursing at St

Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860. It became the ‘Florence Nightingale School of
Nursing and Midwifery’ (Attewell, 1998). The opening of the school became possible
when in 1855, as a token of gratitude and respect for Florence, the ‘Nightingale Fund’
was established. Due to substantial amounts of funds raised, Florence used the money
to institute the ‘Nightingale School of Nursing’ (Selanders, 2015). The objective of the
school was to produce nurses who could then train others. The following year, Florence
established a training school for midwives in King's College Hospital (Attewell, 1998).
The training emphasized about the importance of patient-centred care, as patient
experience was a main focus for Florence (Munro, 2010). 12 1i2 12

Florence Nightingale is one of the most influential figures from nursing. She has had a
substantial impact on nursing and her contributions to the profession changed nursing
forever. Florence introduced sanitation and cleanliness and she transformed the way
people look at nurses and nursing as a profession. Nurses are no longer seen as
uneducated slaves, but rather the complete opposite. Florence emphasised the
importance of patient-centred care and she showed us the significant impact the
environment has on a patient and their recovery. Florence Nightingale is considered a
‘statistician’ and the founder of modern nursing. Her lasting legacy on nursing is
incredible. 1in t cat dog Caitlin hall MacBook bog bed head in my room a

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References

Attewell, A 1998, Florence Nightingale, 1820–1910, UNESCO: International Bureau of Education, (1), p.

153–66.

Baly, M.E 1998, Florence Nightingale and the Nursing Legacy: Building the Foundations of Modern

Nursing & Midwifery. 2nd edn. Philadelphia, PA: Trans-Atlantic Publications

Bostridge, M 2011, Florence Nightingale: Saving Lives With Statistics. Viewed 26 April 2016,

< http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/z92hsbk>.

Dossey, B.M 2009, Florence Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer. United States: F. A. Davis Company

McDonald, L (ed.) 2010, Florence Nightingale: The Crimean War: Collected works of Florence

Nightingale, Volume 14. Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press

Medeiros, A, Enders, C, De Carvalho, B and Luisa, A 2015, The Florence Nightingale’s Environmental

Theory: A Critical Analysis.

Munro, C.L 2010, The Lady with the Lamp Illuminates Critical Care. Viewed 26 April

Pulliam, D 2014, Florence Nightingale. Viewed 25 April 2016, <http://britishheritage.com/florence-

nightingale>.

RNCentral 2003, The Impact of Florence Nightingale on Nursing. Viewed 27 April 2016

<http://www.rncentral.com/nursinglibrary/the_impact_of_florence_nightingale_on_nursing/ >.

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References

Selanders, L 2015, Florence Nightingale. Viewed April 27 2016

<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Florence-Nightingale>.

Vermont, G 2016, Florence Nightingale, Lifesaver. Viewed 25 April

<http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=f_Nightingale>.

Wayne, G. 2015, Florence Nightingale - Environmental Theory. Viewed 27 April

<http://nurseslabs.com/florence-nightingales-environmental-theory/>.

Weebly 2013, Person of Faith: Florence Nightingale. Viewed 26 April 2016 <

http://tuttle7rede.weebly.com/person-of-faith.html>.

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