Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) was a pioneering English nurse, renowned for her contributions to modern nursing practices and healthcare reform. Born into an affluent British family, she defied societal expectations by pursuing a nursing career, which was considered unconventional for women of her time.
Nightingale rose to prominence during the Crimean War (1853–1856), where she and her team of nurses transformed the unsanitary and chaotic conditions of military hospitals in Scutari, Turkey. Her meticulous record-keeping and emphasis on hygiene led to significant reductions in mortality rates, setting new standards for patient care. This earned her the moniker “The Lady with the Lamp,” as she tirelessly tended to wounded soldiers during the night. After the war, Nightingale continued her work in healthcare reform, advocating for improved sanitation, nursing education, and hospital design. She established the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, laying the foundation for modern nursing education.
FURTHER READING AND SUGGESTED VIDEOS:
Florence Nightingale – Biography, Facts & Nursing | HISTORY
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