Select a nurse that historically contributed to the advancement of the profession.
In a 2–3-page paper (not including the title page or reference page), include the following information:
- Describe the background of the nurse you selected.
- Discuss the major social issues occurring at the time this nurse lived.
- Describe two contributions this nurse made to the nursing profession including an explanation of how these two unique contributions influenced current nursing practice.
- APA format
Florence Nightingale: A Pioneer of Modern Nursing
Florence Nightingale is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of nursing. Born in 1820 in Florence, Italy, she grew up in a wealthy British family. Despite the limited opportunities available to women at the time, Nightingale was determined to pursue a career in nursing, and her work revolutionized the profession.
At the time that Nightingale lived, the field of nursing was not well-respected, and it was often seen as a low-paying and menial job. However, during the mid-19th century, there were significant social issues related to healthcare, particularly in military hospitals. During the Crimean War, which took place from 1853 to 1856, there were widespread reports of poor conditions and high mortality rates in military hospitals. This crisis drew Nightingale’s attention, and she began working to improve the quality of care for wounded soldiers.
Nightingale made several significant contributions to the nursing profession. Perhaps her most well-known accomplishment was her role in developing modern nursing practices. She believed that nursing should be a respected profession, and she worked tirelessly to improve the education and training of nurses. Nightingale established the first professional nursing school, the Nightingale Training School for Nurses, in 1860 at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. The school provided rigorous training in nursing skills, hygiene, and patient care, and it helped to raise the status of nursing as a profession.
Another significant contribution that Nightingale made to nursing was her use of data and statistics to improve patient care. She was a firm believer in evidence-based practice and emphasized the importance of collecting data to track patient outcomes. Nightingale developed a system for collecting and analyzing data on patient outcomes, which she used to demonstrate the effectiveness of her nursing methods. This approach laid the foundation for modern nursing research and helped to establish nursing as a scientific and evidence-based profession.
Nightingale’s contributions to nursing have had a lasting impact on the profession. Her emphasis on education and training helped to professionalize nursing, and her use of data and statistics paved the way for evidence-based practice. Today, nurses continue to use Nightingale’s methods and principles to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to patients.
In conclusion, Florence Nightingale was a pioneer of modern nursing and made significant contributions to the profession. Her emphasis on education and training and her use of data and statistics helped to establish nursing as a respected and evidence-based profession. Nightingale’s legacy continues to influence nursing practice today, and her work has had a lasting impact on healthcare around the world.