Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820 – Aug 13, 1910), also known as ‘The Lady With the Lamp,’ was an English nurse, social reformer and statistician known as the founder of modern day nursing. She rose to prominence during the Crimean war reducing the death rate of soldiers with her innovative practices. She then went on to start the first nursing school in London. Without her efforts, who knows what the world today would look like.

Florence’s Early Years

Florence was born in Italy to a wealthy, and well connected, British family. She was the youngest of two daughters who were raised on their family’s estate in Derbyshire, England. For the era, her father was fairly progressive and  believed his daughters should receive an education. Therefore, he taught them history, mathematics, philosophy, languages and more. Both girls were smart but Florence had a keen mind for data analysis and excelled in academics.

From an early age it was evident that Florence had an affinity for caring for others. She often visited the poor and sick in the village near her home. By the time she was 16, Florence was certain she had discovered her calling. The only problem was the lack of support from her family. They believed a young woman of her class should marry a man of means to ensure her social standing, not take on the work of a lowly laborer. While Florence may have been shy, even awkward, her will and passion was strong. Consequentially, she turned down a marriage proposal, rejecting the traditional role of an elite woman in the Victorian Era, and eventually enrolled as a nursing student in Germany.

Having devoted herself to study the art and science of nursing, she returned to London in the early 1950’s to work as a nurse. While volunteering at a Middlesex hospital battling an outbreak of cholera, it became evident to Florence that unsanitary conditions further spread the disease. The young nurse focused on improving hygiene practices and sanitation thereby successfully reducing the death rate at the hospital. This challenge was just the beginning compared to what awaited Florence during the Crimean War.

The Crimean War

The Crimean war broke out in 1853. The British, Ottoman Empire, France and Sardinia fought against the Russian Empire for two and a half years. By 1854 the conditions endured by the wounded were horrific. As a result, Florence and a team of 30+ female volunteer nurses were deployed to offer their assistance. Upon arrival, they were met by overworked staff, little medicine, no hygienic practices, water contamination, poor ventilation and no proper equipment to process food for patients. As a result, more men died of disease than of battle wounds. During her stay at the military hospital, proper sewage control was implemented improving ventilation, hand-washing and other hygiene practices taken more seriously, a separate kitchen for meal prep commissioned as well as laundry facilities.

The no-nonsense woman worked tirelessly to improve conditions which ultimately led to a drastic improvement of the high death rate. She often walked the hospital at night checking up on patients. Her efforts and endless compassion earned Florence her nickname, “the lady with the lamp.”

Later Work & Legacy

Florence’s experience during the Crimean War inspired her to write an 800+ page report with data she gathered and analyzed regarding poor practices in military hospitals. As a result, the Royal Commission for the Health of the Army was established. More data was gathered by the top statisticians of the day but it was Nightingales revolutionary method of analysis that easily displayed the decrease of death as a result of new practices. This visual diagram was called a polar area diagram, also known as “The Nightingale Rose Diagram.”

Towards the end of 1855, a meeting was held to recognize Florence’s work during the Crimean War. Money was initially raised to present the nurse with a token of thanks, but was instead used to establish the Florence Nightingale Fund, which still serves the people to this day. Florence used the money to help create the first formal nursing school at St. Thomas hospital in London. It began accepting students in 1860. Today it is known as Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery and is part of King’s College.

Florence was largely bedridden by the age of 38 as a result of contracting Crimean Fever from which she never fully recovered. However, the esteemed woman never stopped working to improve the standards of healthcare for patients around the world. Her continued efforts included writing a book, Notes on Nursing, which served as the cornerstone publication at the Nightingale School as well as many other schools. 

Some of Florence’s most notable awards and distinctions include:

• First female member of the Royal Statistical Society (1858)
• Received an engraved brooch from Queen Victoria known as the ‘Nightingale Jewel’ + 250,000 in prize money
• First recipient of the Royal Red Cross (1883)
• First woman awarded the Order of Merit by King Edward (1907)
• Received the Freedom of the City of London (1908)
•  International Nurse’s Day is held annually on Florence Nightingale’s birthday