OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600, Philippines

Tel. No. (054) 721-1368, Fax No. (054) 721-2610)

MIDTERMS

MODULE 6
NCM 100

THEORETICAL FOUNDATION IN NURSING

Florence Nightingale
Environmental Theory

First Semester
SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022
OLLCF

Irene Flor R. Yebra, MSN

Professor

No part of this learning material may be reproduced or distributed

in any form without prior permission from the author.
 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600, Philippines
Tel. No. (054) 721-1368, Fax No. (054) 721-2610)

MODULE 6

Course Overview:

Florence Nightingale is famous for her many contributions and accomplishments in the field of
nursing profession. She is well known as the Mother of Modern Nursing. This module will give us a
broad knowledge of the beginnings of Nursing as a Profession and how significant is the Environment
Theory in the care of Clients.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Module, you will be able to:

1. Identify the importance of Environment in Care of the sick.
2. Apply knowledge on how conditions in the environment can promote healing of the
sick.
3. Identify the significant roles and responsibilities of a nurse making use of critical
thinking and not just merely caring for the sick.

Learning Experience

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)

Autobiography:
o Mother of Modern Nursing, born in Florence Italy
o Born of respectable family
o Had vast knowledge of science, mathematics, arts and literature. She was also a linguist.
o First Nurse Educator
o She trained under Kaiserswerth School of Nursing, under the management of Theodor Fleidner.

Why was she called “Lady with a Lamp”?

During Crimean War, in Eastern Europe 1854, Florence Nightingale with other 38 nurses, took
care of wounded shoulders from war and made rounds at night with her lamp and consoled
wounded and dying soldiers.
o She became a heroine, when she was able to bring down the number of patients who died and got
infected from the poor sanitary conditions of the dispensary by cleaning the barracks of the
wounded soldiers, dressing wounds with clean bandages and providing adequate sunlight and air
in the patients’ wards. These were just some of her few interventions to promote healing of the
soldiers
o Her book “Notes in Nursing, What it is and what it is not” contained some very significant
writings on nursing responsibilities which up to this day are still practiced and observed by
nurses.

Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory

Metaparadigm:
o Nursing –
Nursing is very essential for everybody’s well-being. “Notes in Nursing” provided essential
principles for rendering and implementing and effective and efficient nursing care.

o Person –
No part of this learning material may be reproduced or distributed
in any form without prior permission from the author.
 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600, Philippines
Tel. No. (054) 721-1368, Fax No. (054) 721-2610)

 She viewed the essence of a person as a patient.

 Nurses should perform tasks to and for the patient as well as control the patient’s
environment to facilitate early recovery
 She emphasized that the nurse is in control of the patient’s environment
o Health –
 She described health as the state of “being well and using every power that the person
has to the fullest extent”
 Disease is reparative process that nature instituted from a want of attention
 Prevention of disease through environmental control will greatly improve the
maintenance of health
 She promoted modern public health nursing and the more modern concept of health
promotion.
o Environment -
 She believed that the sick and poor people would benefit from environmental
improvements and addressed their physical and mental aspects
 She advocated the nurse’s role in uplifting the social status of the poor by improving
living conditions
 Concept of environment are:
 External elements to and which affect the health of the sick and healthy
person which includes food, flowers to the patients , verbal and non-verbal in
interaction with the client.

Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory

Table 1. Some of the Nursing Considerations and responsibilities:

Factors in the Environment Nursing Intervention
Ventilation and warmth  Check the pt.’s body temp, room
temp, ventilation and foul odors
 Create plan to keep the room well
ventilated and free of odor while
maintaining the pt.’s body temp

Light  Check room for adequate light.

Sunlight is beneficial to the patient
 Create and implement adequate
light in the room without placing
the patient in direct light

Noise  Check noise level in the room and

surroundings
 Attempt to keep noise level in
minimum

No part of this learning material may be reproduced or distributed

in any form without prior permission from the author.
 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600, Philippines
Tel. No. (054) 721-1368, Fax No. (054) 721-2610)

Bed and Bedding  Check bed and beddings for

dampness, wrinkles and soiling
 Keep the bed dry, wrinkle free and
lowest height to ensure comfort.

Personal Cleanliness  Attempt to keep the pt. dry and

clean at all times.
 Frequent assessment of the pt.’s
skin is essential to maintain skin
integrity.

Variety  Attempt to accomplish variety in the

room and with the client
 This is done with cards, flowers,
pictures and books. Also encourage
friends and relatives to engage in
stimulating activities.

Chattering hopes and advises  Avoid talking without giving advice

that is without a fact.
 Respect the patient as a person and
avoid personal talk.

Taking Food  Check the diet of the patient.

 Note the amount of food and fluid
ingested by the patient at every
meal

Petty Management  This ensures a continuity of care

 Document the plan of care and
evaluate the outcomes to ensure
continuity.

Observation of the sick  Observe and record anything about

the patient
 Continue observation in the
patient’s environment and make
changes in the plan of care if
needed.

No part of this learning material may be reproduced or distributed

in any form without prior permission from the author.
 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600, Philippines
Tel. No. (054) 721-1368, Fax No. (054) 721-2610)

References:
Printed Materials:
George, Julia B.(2008). Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice (5th Edition).
Pearson Education South Asia PTE. LTD. 2008.

Kozier, Barbara. Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts, Process & Practice 7th ed. (Local) C&E Publishing

McEwan, M. & Wills, Evelyn M. (2007). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. (2nd Edition). Lippincott Williams
&Wilkins

Octaviano, E. F & Balita, C. E. (2008). Theoretical Foundations of Nursing: The Philippine Perspective.
Ultimate Learning Series.

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Next: Self-Activity

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in any form without prior permission from the author.