THE HEROIC

LIFE OF NURSE
EDITH CAVELL
By Prescilla Randazzo, RN
Arizona State University
 EDITH A heroic English nurse, whose nondiscriminatory life-saving efforts, quite possibly
changed the course of World War I (Arthur, T., 2006).
CAVELL
Miss Cavell found her call to nursing late in life; at age 30, she entered nursing school at
(1865-1915) London Hospital. Her intelligence and diligent intentions to improve nursing care
advanced her position in nursing (Arthur, T., 2006).

She was eventually invited to open a nursing school in Brussels at a nondenominational

hospital. This program blossomed and gained respect in the community, and she
eventually opened two more institutions (Arthur, T., 2006).

Her endeavors to expand nurse training programs was eventually stopped when the
Germans invaded and occupied Belgium during WWI. Her hospital became a treatment
center for German soldiers, and it became illegal to treat French and English soldiers.
Nonetheless, this law did not impede Miss Cavell’s compassionate and humanistic
demeanor (Arthur, T., 2006).

In secret, she treated French and English soldiers alike, and helped them escape the
Germans. She saved the lives of over 200 soldiers before she was caught and imprisoned
by German officers. After confessing to medically treating and helping “enemy soldiers”
escape, she was ordered to death by shooting (Arthur, T., 2006).

Edith Cavell. Retrieved from https://edithcavell.org.uk/edith-cavells-life

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY AS A MARTYR
 Edith Cavell placed herself in danger to
protect and serve the lives of others.
 She embodies all of the characteristics that
describe a nurse.
 Society views her as a martyr and has statues
and tributes created to honor her patriotism,
bravery, and willingness to go beyond the line
of duty (McFadyen, P., Chamberlin, D., &
Miller, N., 2017).
 Her execution sparked outrage, and
supposedly triggered America’s aid to the
English, assisting with the fall of Germany
(Arthur, T., 2016.

Edith Cavell Memorial at Trafalgar Square. Retrieved from

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/edith-cavell-100th-
anniversary-to-mark-death-of-belgian-world-war-i-nurse-revered-in-
britain-a6688616.html
 GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO NURSING

 Before the era of WWI, being a nurse was frowned upon in society. Nursing was not seen as a
profession of any sort, and nurses were considered uneducated and unintelligent (Arthur, T.,
2016).
 Through her intellectual lectures to physicians, and successful nurse training programs, Edith
Cavell helped nursing to be viewed as a “profession” (Arthur, T., 2016).
 Miss Cavell trained many nurses to tend to emergencies, which helped save countless lives in
WWI (Arthur, T., 2016).
 She is known as the first ”emergency room nurse” (Arthur, T., 2016).
 MOST CURIOUS FACT
 Edith Cavell was sentenced to death by shooting for helping heal and hide enemy soldiers
(Arthur, T., 2016).
 On the morning of her death, the German firing squad that was assigned to kill her, failed in
doing so (Arthur, T., 2016).
 Some speculate that the soldiers were previously treated by her, and they could not find it in
their heart to kill her. Instead, they all fired around her instead of at her (Arthur, T., 2016).
 She fainted from the stress of the shots going off, but was not injured (Arthur, T., 2016).
 Then a German leader walked up to her and shot her in the head, executioner style (Arthur, T.,
2016).
 The death of Edith Cavell shocked so many people, which led to more support for England,
eventually ending WWI (Arthur, T., 2016).
 FUTURE GOALS
 I am considering multiple career paths for my future as a registered nurse. I will soon decide
between becoming a CRNA or FNP. I have never worked in the operating room before, but I
have been a critical care nurse for two years, and I love the intensity and fast-paced
environment. I currently have a personal business as a holistic wellness and nutrition coach. I
would love to work alongside a naturopathic physician as a FNP. This will be a very
challenging decision for me to make, but I am very excited to advance my career as a nurse!
 REFERENCES
 McFadyen, P., Chamberlin, D., Miller, N. (2017). Edith cavell 1865-1915 a norfolk heroine.
Retrieved from https://edithcavell.org.uk/edith-cavells-life/
 Arthur, T. (2006). The life and death of edith cavell, english emergency nurse known as the
other nightingale. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 1(32), 30-35.
doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2005.12.041