ANGIE STRAWN, MSN, RNDOCTORAL STUDENT

OCTOBER, 2010OMICRON DELTA CHAPTER

SIGMA THETA TAU

Florence Nightingale – Legend and Legacy

Overview

The Early Years – 1820 - 1854The Crimea – 1854 - 1856The Lady With the Lamp - 1855Fame and Reform – 1856 - 1871Nightingale’s Voice – 1871 - 1910

Family Background

Father - William Edward (Shore) NightingaleMother - Frances (Fanny) SmithMarried - June 1, 1818Sister - Parthenope born April 19, 1819 in

Naples, ItalyFlorence - born May 12, 1820 in Florence,

Italy

The Nightingale Estate, Embley Park

To Feel Her Presence

Florence moved into Embley Park at age 5

The little girl who came down these stairs

Who rejected the wealth of her parents

Who developed a social conscience that changed the world

To Understand Her Childhood

The student who learned at her father’s knee

The student who studied for hours each day

Self-directed and goal – oriented

Affinity for languages and math

Bandaged dolls and pets

Earliest surviving letter – age 7

February 7, 1837

Florence writes, “God spoke to me and called me to his service.”

The Victorian Era

Moved by social problemsGrew to hate Embley Park for the wealth it

represented (19 servants; 39 gardeners).Tension in family – wanted to escape the

social sceneCaused stress and mental strainTraveled to Greece, Egypt, GermanyKaiserswerth experience1853 – Superintendent of Establishment for

Gentlewomen in London

The Crimea 1854-1856

Left for the Crimea on October 21st, 1854 with 38 nurses.

Duty was to assist at the Barracks Hospital, Scutari

Nightingale and her staff were not welcomedHer research and statistics show dramatic

decrease in deaths among injured.The coxcomb graphic of statistical dataPromoted fresh sir, sanitation, cleanlinessCrimea fever – now known as brucellosis

Scutari

Lady with the Lamp – February 24, 1855

Fame and Reform

Returned to London, late 1856Now a famous personWrote Notes on Nursing and Notes on

HospitalsNext five years at the Burlington Hotel,

would not return to Embley ParkSuffered the ravages of brucellosisWrote!!!

Nightingale School of Nursing

Founded in 1960 at former St. Thomas Hospital

World’s first secular training school for nurses

Designed pavilion style hospital wardsApplied concepts from her writingsContinued to gather data and do research

Nursing Pin of the Nightingale School

St. Thomas Hospital

New hospital opened in 1871

Four miles of hallsPavilion style wardsVentilation on both sides1872-1900: 13 Letters to

Nurses

St. Thomas Hospital

Modest London Memorial

F.N. 1820-1910

A simple grave in the country church yard

Family refused the Westminster Abbey burial

Only Two Women Stand in London

Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale

Statue dedicated in 1915

Note the lamp

Her Legend

Founding philosopher of nursing14,000+ lettersAdvocate for healing environmentsEvidence-based practiceNurse theoristNursing as spiritual practiceIn Myers-Briggs – INTJVisionary leaderPassionate statistician

You Are Her Legacy

The Tenets of Nightingale’s Legacy

Calls for a focus on caringPromoted health not just treatment of diseaseGlobal perspective – health for allCommunity health – collaborationConcern for those in poverty – urban and

ruralBe a voice for advocacyHolistic focus that includes spiritualityLeadership for changeNursing is a calling

In her own words…

Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.

- Florence Nightingale

Allow your discontent to change nursing, nursing education, and our world so you can become the legacy of your calling, inspired by Nightingale.

- Angie Strawn

References and Recommended Readings

Bostridge, M. (2008). Florence Nightingale: The making of an icon. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Dossey, B. M. (2010). Florence Nightingale: Mystic, visionary, healer. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

Dossey, B. M., Selanders, L. C., Beck, D. M., & Attewell, A. (2005). Florence Nightingale today: Healing, leadership, global

action. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association. Gregson, J. (2010). A band of angels: A novel. Austin, TX:

Touchstone. Nightingale, F. (1859). Notes on nursing. New York, NY: Barnes &

Noble Nightingale, F. (1859). Notes on hospitals. Perry, A. (2009). A sudden, fearful death. New York, NY:

Ballantine Books.