FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH CARE AND TWO HUNDRED YEARS SINCE THE BIRTH OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (1820-1910)
Abstract
Nursery has existed throughout history and it dates back to the very beginning of humankind. It was mentioned in church books and other written texts but not as a skill or science, but as an occupation reserved for the members of monastic orders, and also for women, that is, mothers, and nuns. First, nursing was an occupation, then a skill, but at the end of the 20th century, it became a scientific discipline. Florence Nightingale is certainly one of the most significant women in the history of nursing, medicine, and society in general because she is the pioneer of the nursing profession that has continuity up to nowadays. She was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy and died on August 13, 1910, in London. Florence Nightingale worked as a nurse, organizer, researcher, statistician, reformer, writer and a teacher. She reformed nursery and public health. In 1860, she established the school for nurses within St. Thomas’ Hospital and she took care of every protégé. In spite of all obstacles, which she was faced with, and the unenviable position of women in the 19th century, she made a huge move that changed the context of this profession forever. She had a huge influence on the Swiss philanthropist Henry Dunant (1828-1910), who was the founder of The Red Cross. In 1867, the International Council of Nurses proclaimed that her birthday would be the International Nurses Day. She was the first woman who was awarded the Medal of virtues. In 1908, she was conferred the Order of Merit by King Edward. She wrote more than 200 books and the Pledge.
ˮI appreciate my success to this that I have never made or accept any excuse.ˮ
Florence Nightingale
References
Feo R, Kitson A, Conroy T. How fundamental aspects of nursing care are defined in the literature: A scoping review. J Clin Nurs 2018; 27(11-12):2189-2229.
Mandal L, Seethalakshmi A, Rajendrababu A. Rationing of nursing care, a deviation from holistic nursing: A systematic review. Nurs Philos 2020; 21(1):e12257.
Kulic L, Arsic-Komljenovic G, Andjelski H, Sijan-Gobeljic M, Jovanović M. Uloga Florens Najtingejl u razvoju sestrinstva. Zdravstvena zaštita 2013; 42(3):43-49.
Bubalo Dj. Kada je veliki župan Stefan Nemanjic izdao povelju manastiru Hilandaru? Srpski arhiv 2010; (9):233-41.
Matthews S. Registered male: a discussion on men in the nursing profession. Contemporary Nurse 2001; 11(2-3):231-235.
Macknitosh C. A historical study of men in nursing. J Advan Nur 1997; 26:232–236.
Eswi A, El Sayed Y. The experience of Egyptian male student nurses during attending maternity nursing clinical course. Nurs Educ Practice 2011; 11(2):93–98.
Romen P, Anson O. Israeli men in nursing: social and personal motives. J Nurs Managt 2005; 13:173–178.
Wilson R, Godfrey CM, Sears K, Medves J, Ross-White A, Lambert N. Exploring conceptual and theoretical frameworks for nurse practitioner education: a scoping review protocol. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep 2015;13(10) 146-155.
Evans J. Men nurses: a historical and feminist perspective. J Adv Nurs 2004; 47(3):321-8.
Wildman S, Hewison A. Rediscovering a history of nursing management: from Nightingale to the modern matron. Int J Nurs Stud 2009; 46(12):1650-61.
Miracle AV. The life and impact of Florence Nightingale. Dimens Crit Care Nurs 2008; 27:21-3.
Florens Najtingejl (Florence Nightingale) Bolničarka, medicinska sestra (1820. - 1910.). [Internet] Available at: https://www.biografija.org/istorija/florens-najtingejl-florence-nightingale/ [Cited 01.10.2020.]
Ružička I, Narodni zdravstveni list, Majka sestrinstva. [Internet] Available at: http://www.zzjzpgz.hr/nzl/33/sestrinstvo.htm [Cited 01.10.2020.]
Miracle AV. The life and impact of Florence Nightingale.Dimens Crit Care Nurs 2008; 27:21-3.
Milutinovic D, Sumonja S, Maksimovic J. Ličnost i delo Florens Najtingejl - tvorca modernog sestrinstva i pionira javnog zdravlja. Medicinski pregled 2012; 65(5-6):263-267.
McDonald L. Public health care as a system. In: Florence Nightingale on public health care. Collected works of Florence Nightingale. Vol. 6. Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2004: p. 6-12.
Florens Najtingejl. [Internet] Available at: https://famousfemalematemathicians2.home.blog/florens-najtingejl/ [Cited 01.10.2020.]