***Describe the historical influence on the nursing profession of Florence Nightingale and why she is

called the founder of modern nursing (20points)***

Florence Nightingale often called “the founder of nursing” was born to a wealthy family in Italy,
1820. At the age of 24, she felt a calling to care for the sick and the poor. While many know she had an
impact on nursing, many may not know how significant that impact truly was. Before Nightingale, nurses
learned from experience with no formal training. Nightingale raised the standard of nursing by
incorporating education and responsibilities, paving the path for a respected and appreciated
profession. With her book, Notes on Nursing, Nightingale established nursing education. The textbook
outlined the principles of the nursing profession, providing advice on how regular women could care for
their families, and how illness could be properly managed. She emphasized the importance of patient
observation to diagnose and treat properly.

Nightingale opened her first school in 1860, The Nightingale School for Nurses, which was part
of St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. The institution offered the first official training program for nurses so
that they could work in hospitals, help the poor, and teach others. Nightingale’s legacy continued
through her students, as many continued to be matrons at major hospitals in England; as well as
establish their own training programs throughout the world. Not only did she improve the standards of
the nursing profession, but she also enhanced the hospitals in which they worked. While working in a
filthy facility during the Crimean War, Nightingale made recommendations for sanitary improvements
and established standards for clean and safe hospitals.

“The Lady with the Lamp” is considered the founder of modern nursing because of her
innovative approach to the field. By focusing on personalized patient care. The holistic approach she
advocated, considered revolutionary at the time, is still implemented today. These small changes
decreased the death rate for soldiers being treated in hospitals. She made further recommendations in
her book, Notes on Hospitals, stating how conditions could be improved by increasing ventilation,
adding windows, improving drainage, and increasing space.