How Important A Part Did Florence Nightingale Play In Improving The Training Of Nurses In The 19th Century?

Florence Nightingale brought a new sense of discipline and professionalism to a job that had very bad reputation at the time. She became a nurse despite the opposition of her family, and studied in Europe from 1849 and in Alexandria in 1850. In 1853 she was appointed the Superintendent at the Institution for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen. At this stage she was already interested in the training of nurses. The Crimean War broke out in March 1854. The use of telegraphic communications by war correspondents to get stories home fast encouraged people to have opinions and comment.

Sidney Herbert, who was both the Secretary of War and a friend of the Nightingale family, requested that Florence went to Scutari to sort out the nursing care in the hospital. Despite opposition from the military, Florence took 38 handpicked nurses in the autumn of 1854 and created a legend to rival the Charge of the Light Brigade. She became known as the "Lady with the lamp" because she always looking after the patients, whatever time it was. When Nightingale took control of one of the hospitals she cleaned up the wards, the filth was removed, air was allowed to circulate. More reliable evidence of her success was the death rate in the hospital - 42% before she arrived, but 2% in 1856. Thus proving that Florence Nightingale was an important part in improving the training of nurses in the 19th Century.

Florence Nightingale used her fame to help her change the face of nursing forever. Her book, "Notes on Nursing", explained her methods - the standard textbook for generations. £44,000 was raised to help her train nurses, and she set up the Nightingale School of Nursing in St. Thomas's Hospital, London. Discipline and attention to detail were important. Therefore proving that Florence Nightingale played an important role in improving the training of nurses in the 19th Century.

Florence wanted nurses to remain single so they wouldn't have divided loyalties. She'd turned down offers of marriage when she wanted to start her career in 1844. Of the 38 nurses she took to the Crimea, 24 were nuns. Although partly due to the poor standard of training outside the convents, this also suggests that she thought nursing like a religious vocation. Thus proving that Florence Nightingale was an important part in improving the training of nurses in the 19th Century.

Although Florence Nightingale was a important part in improving the training of nurses, she was backward looking and believed in the Miasma (bad air) theory of disease. She also did not consider that official government recognition of nursing qualifications were necessary. She was more of an expert in organising than in medical theories.

Although Florence Nightingale was bedridden due to illness contracted in the Crimea for many years, she campaigned tirelessly to improve health standards, publishing 200 books, reports and pamphlets.

In recognition of her hard work Queen Victoria awarded Miss Nightingale the Royal Red Cross in 1883. In her old age she received many honours, including the Order of Merit (1907), becoming the first woman to receive it.

Florence Nightingale is often portrayed as a romantic figure walking the wards of Scutari. In fact she was very determined and faced opposition from her own family and male prejudice. Her farsighted reforms have influenced the nature of modern health care and her writings continue to be a resource for nurses, health managers and planners. In my opinion Florence Nightingale played a very important role in the improvement of the training of nurses in the 19th Century.

Oliver Maltby 10A