Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale was born in 1820, the 12 May, and was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. Florence Nightingale was born into a rich, upper-class family. Her father was her home teacher. She was an Anglican, and believed that God had called her to be a nurse. So, Florence announced her decision to her family to enter nursing in 1844, despite the intense anger and disappointment of her mother and sister. In this, she rebelled against the expected role for a woman, which was to become a wife and mother. Then, Nightingale worked hard to educate herself in the art and science of nursing, in spite of the opposition from her family and the general idea which the society had about the lives that young English women like her should have. As the conflict with her family remained unresolved, it was decided that Florence would travelled in Europe. When she went to Germany, she visited Pastor Theodor Fliedner's hospital and school for deaconesses (in some protestant churches, women who take care of sick/poor people) at Kaiserswerth. Later, Florence returned to this city to undergo a formation of health care. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing, but also thanks to his investment during the Crimean War. In Britain, there were newspapers that reported the terrible conditions of treatment of wounded soldiers. Florence was asked to help them. At first, the nurses were only allowed to clean the hospital. When more wounded arrived, doctors were forced to ask the nurses for help. The soldiers thought that Florence Nightingale was a great lady. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" because during this war, she was a sort of "ministering angel". When all the medical officers had retired for the night, when silence and darkness had settled down, she continued alone to observe the patients, with a little lamp in her hand, in solitary rounds... And when she returned to Britain, she was a heroine but she didn't want to be famous. In 1860, based on his experiences during the Crimean War, she established a nursing school ("Nightingale School and Home for Nurses at St. Thomas' Hospital ") in London which became a model. The principal aim was to train nurses to work in hospitals, to work with the poor, and to teach, with a lot of tutorials. In 1860 his best known work, "Notes on Nursing," was also published. It established the basic principles: careful observation and sensitivity adapted to patient needs. Her writings on hospital planning and organization had a profound effect in England and all around the world. For example, in 1861, during the US Civil War, the Army asked her advice on caring for soldiers in the field. After that, in 1973, the Nightingale system for the education of nurses is adopted in the USA. At the end of her life, Florence Nightingale was very ill but continued to campaign to improve health standards, publishing not less than 200 books, reports and brochures. In recognition of his work in 1883, Queen Victoria awarded her the Royal Red Cross. During her old age she also received many honors, being the first woman to receive the Order of Merit in 1907. In 1908, she graced the Honorary Freedom of the City of London. She died peacefully the 13 August 1910 in London, and left a large body of work. But for many persons, the greatest success of Florence Nightingale was to have carried the nurse's job at a respectable profession for women. And today, it is still recognized throughout the world. For example, the International Day of the nurses is celebrated worldwide on May 12, the day of the birthday of Florence Nightingale.