Florence Nightingale's Role In Improving The Training Of Nurses In The 19th Century

Florence Nightingale's Role In Improving The Training Of Nurses In The 19th Century

Just 150 years ago nursing was not regarded as a profession. Stories

about nurses in the early 19th century suggest that they often did

little to help their patients recover. Most nurses were untrained and

were paid less than factory workers. They slept in wards and part of

their wages was gin. One of the women who changed that image of

nursing was Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale was born in

Italy on 12 May 1820 and was named Florence after her birthplace. She

came from a Middle-class family and her parents were appalled by her

intentions to go into nursing.

Although she was conscious of her calling at an early age, she found

it difficult to break from her social circle and pursue a nursing

career. Born to William Edward and Frances Nightingale (in Florence,

Italy, hence her name) she was expected to fulfil the usual role of a

wealthy young woman, making a good marriage and living a conventional

life. But Florence had other ideas: as a child she enjoyed learning

and developed an interest in social issues, visiting her local

hospital and the homes of the sick.

Florence Nightingale brought a new sense of discipline and

professionalism to a job that had very bad reputation at the time. She

became a nurse despite the opposition of her family, and studied in

Europe from 1849 and in Alexandria in 1850. In 1853 she was appointed

the Superintendent at the Institution for the Care of Sick

Gentlewomen. At this stage she was already interested in the training

of nurses. The Crimean War broke out in March 1854. The use of

telegraphic communicati...

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in the Crimea for many years, she campaigned tirelessly to improve

health standards, publishing 200 books, reports and pamphlets.

In recognition of her hard work Queen Victoria awarded Miss

Nightingale the Royal Red Cross in 1883. In her old age she received

many honours, including the Order of Merit (1907), becoming the first

woman to receive it.

Florence Nightingale is often portrayed as a romantic figure walking

the wards of Scutari. In fact she was very determined and faced

opposition from her own family and male prejudice. Her farsighted

reforms have influenced the nature of modern health care and her

writings continue to be a resource for nurses, health managers and

planners. In my opinion Florence Nightingale played a very important

role in the improvement of the training of nurses in the 19th Century.