“The Lady of the Lamp”

Modern nursing practices were developed around the 19th century with mass wars such as The Crimean War, The Civil War, and The Spanish American War. The nurses in these wars created modern medical practices that are still used to this day. The pioneer that stemmed all of modern nursing practices/procedures, Florence Nightingale, who additionally challenged societal norms of the 19th century to allow more inclusion of women in the medical workforce while improving nursing protocol. 

Like many nurses that will be featured on this blog, Nightingale did not start her career as a nurse. Initially, she was held back by her parents who believed a career as a nurse was unsuitable for a high-standing woman. As a part of the higher echelon, her parents thought being a “career-woman” was beneath their familial status. She was courted by Richard Milnes, but denied his wedding proposal and decided that nursing was her true calling (“Florence Nightingale”).

 Once through school, and The Crimean War starting, she was asked to assemble a group of nurses to care for the injured soldiers due to her superior skills as a nurse. This group was the first women nurses to aid in the Crimean War. As the head nurse, Nightingale single handedly urged for improved sanitary practices. By simply washing hands and cleaning medical instruments, the death rate was reduced by two-thirds. Additionally, as a patient advocate, she increased the aid to receive more supplies, food, and expanded sanitary procedure (“Florence Nightingale”). The soldiers nicknamed her “The Lady of the Lamp” for caring for them when most needed (Alexander). This nickname stuck with her throughout the rest of her life. 

Her impact was not only felt during the war, but afterwards, too, with her founding the St. Thomas Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. By teaching the next generation of nurses simple cleaning techniques, Nightingale additionally saved millions of lives, even after her death (“Florence Nightingale”).

Nightingale has become a symbol of independence, intelligence, and perseverance. By not conforming to society, she has modernized an entire field of medical science that still uses some of her practices today. Furthermore, she has inspired generations of women to defy norms and create a modern society with women in the workplace. To signify her symbolic place in history, International Nurses’ Day is celebrated on Nightingale’s birthday, May 12th, with her 200th birthday occurring next year, 2020. Nightingale paved the way for future women like Clara Barton, Mary Mahoney, and many others to additionally pioneer in the nursing field.

Photo of Florence Nightingale