FLORENCE

NIGHTINGALE
(MID-1800)
Environmental
Theory
 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (MID-1800)
 Developed the first theory of nursing:
Environmental Theory
She believed that in the nurturing environment,
the body could repair itself

❑ First nursing theorist

❑ First professional nurse

 Published books (1859)

:“Notes on Nursing: What it is, What it is not”
: Notes on Hospital

• She provided the nursing profession the “Legacy of

Caring”
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (MID-1800)
 Born on May 12, 1820 in Florence , Italy

 Born to a wealthy family

 Her calling was to serve God and serve mankind

 At age 24, she decided to work in a hospital- her

family disapproved

 Studied nursing in the Institution of Deaconesses

(1850) Kaiserworth, Germany (3 months)
▪ “The Lady with the Lamp”- served during
Crimean War

▪ After the war, she wrote the Environmental

Theory

▪ She intensely work reforms in nursing and was

given the title “The Mother of Modern Nursing”

▪ She established a school of nursing at St.

Thomas Hospital in England
 She advocated that “nursing knowledge is
different from medical knowledge”

 She believe in nursing the sick and those who

were already well

 The nurse must use Nightingale’s 13 Canons in

health promotion and spiritual distress

▪ Died on August 13, 1910,London

NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
1. Venitilation and warmth  Assess the body
temperature
 Room temperature
- adequate ventilation,
fresh air
 Foul odors

2. Light  Assess room for

adequate lighting
 Sunlight works best
NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
3. Cleanliness of rooms  Assess room for
and walls dampness, dirt, dust or
mildew

4. Health of houses  Assess surrounding

environment for pure air,
clean water, drainage,
cleanliness and plenty of
light

5. Noise  Assess noise level

 Keep noise to a
minimum
NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
6. Bed and bedding  Assess for dampness,
wrinkles, soiling and height

7. Personal cleanliness  Keep patient dry and

clean at all times
 Assess skin, maintain
adequate moisture

 Stimulate variety in the

8. Variety patients room : flowers,
pictures, books, cards etc.
 Encourage relative to
engage client in
conversation
NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
9. Chattering hopes and  Continue to talk to the
advices client as a person
 Stimulate the client’s
mind
 Avoid personal talk
(talking without reason,
giving advice without
fact)

10. Taking food  Assess clients diet

 Note amount of food
and drink taken every
meal or snacks
NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
11. What food  Assess type of food and
drink the client likes and
dislikes
 Ensure the client has
food available that
client enjoys

12. Petty management  Ensures continuity of

care
 Documentation of plan
of care and evaluation
to ensure others to give
the same care in your
absence
NIGHTINGALE’S 13 CANONS
13. Observation of the sick
 Record all observations
on your client
 Observation should be
factual
 Make alterations in the
plan of care when
needed
3 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
 PHYSICAL  Cleanliness of
environment relates
directly to disease
prevention and patient
mortality

 Influences the social and

psychological
environments of the
person
3 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
 SOCIAL
 Includes components of
the physical
environment - clean air,
clean water, proper
drainage

 Consists of a person’s
home or hospital room,
as well as the total
community that affects
the patient’s specific
environment
3 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
 PSYCHOLOGICAL  Can be affected by a
negative physical
environment (STRESS)
 Activities that keeps the
mind active
◦ manual work, appealing
food, a pleasing
environment
THANK YOU…