Florence Nightingale is called the mother of modern nursing.
She enforced strict hygiene and reformed nursing care.
During the Crimean War, she saved many wounded soldiers from infections and established nursing education.
In this video, we will talk about Nightingale’s life.
Early Life and Education
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, during her parents’ honeymoon.
Born into a wealthy British family,
she received a high level of education from private tutors, studying languages, mathematics, and philosophy.
However, she felt a calling to help others, especially the sick and poor, which was unusual for women of her social class.
Becoming a Nurse
During the 19th century, nursing was not considered a respectable profession.
Despite her family’s strong opposition, Florence was determined to become a nurse.
In 1851, she went to Germany to study nursing, and later, she worked in a London hospital, where she quickly became a skilled and respected nurse.
The Crimean War and Her Achievements
In 1854, Britain was fighting the Crimean War against Russia.
Reports from the battlefield described terrible conditions for wounded soldiers dirty hospitals, lack of medical supplies, and poor hygiene.
Florence Nightingale and a team of nurses traveled to the war zone to improve the situation.
At the hospital in Scutari (now in Turkey), she introduced strict hygiene rules, cleaned the wards, and ensured that soldiers received proper care.
Her efforts dramatically reduced the death rate from 42% to 2%.
She became famous as “The Lady with the Lamp” because she would walk through the hospital at night, checking on patients.
Reforming Healthcare
After the war, Florence continued her work to improve healthcare.
In 1860, she established the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in London, raising the standards of nursing education.
She also wrote books and reports on hospital design, known as the Nightingale Ward, hygiene, and public health, greatly influencing medical care worldwide.
Later Years and Legacy
Florence suffered from illness later in life and was often bedridden, but she continued working through letters and reports.
In 1907, she became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit, a prestigious British award.
She passed away peacefully on August 13, 1910, at the age of 90.
Florence Nightingale’s contributions changed nursing from an unorganized job into a respected profession.
Her principles of hygiene and patient care are still followed today, making her one of the most important figures in medical history.
Finally, if we reflect Nightingale’s spirit and ideals, we can leave people today with the following message:
“It’s not just medicine that heals people. It’s compassion and action that changes the world.”
