Florence Nightingale’s Theory of Positive Manipulation of the Environment

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As the profession of nursing became prevalent, nursing theories began to develop. Meleis (1997) defines nursing theory as a formulated theory that relates to existing nursing standards while proposing new concepts of nursing. These theories are used to direct nurses in their research and actions (as cited in George, 2002, p. 5). They are also used to predict outcomes of actions taken and to predict the patient’s response (George, 2002, p. 5). Nursing theories are a compilation of information used to provide a universal structure of how one should practice nursing (Parker, 2001, p. 8). Many leaders in the nursing field have developed nursing theories; but in this paper the theory of Florence Nightingale will be the focus of discussion. It was her belief that the environment can be altered in order to improve the state of a patient and promote healing (Selanders, 2010, p. 83). Nightingale’s work changed nursing, and heavily impacts health care today. The purpose of this paper is to clearly explain Nightingale’s theory and its current importance in the nursing field.

Background

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), is thought of as the founder of modern nursing. One of Nightingale’s experiences that greatly influenced her later work was her contribution to the Crimean War (1853). Shortly after the war began, very ill British soldiers began to arrive in Turkey for care. Within a few short weeks thousands of men were suffering from several diseases and infections. In 1854, Nightingale was asked to take a group of 38 nurses to Turkey for assistance. Nightingale and her team of nurses found the conditions in the army hospital absolutely dreadful (Fee & Garofalo, 2010, para. 1). The soldiers were still wearing their dirty uniforms, were wi...

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...s of our holistic nursing care. Florence Nightingale “the lady with the lamp” was indeed a woman ahead of her time.

References

Fee, E., & Garofalo, M. E. (2010). Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War. American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), 1591. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.188607

George J. B. (2002). Nursing Theories: The base for professional nursing practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Julie L. Alexander

Monteiro, L. (1984). Florence Nightingale on public health nursing. American Journal of Public Health, 75(2), 181-186. Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/

Parker, L.M. (2001). Nursing theories and nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company

Selanders, L.C. (2010). The power of environmental adaption: Florence Nightingale’s Original Theory for Nursing Practice. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 28(1), 81-88. doi: 10.1177/0898010109360257

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