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62 UNIT II Nursing Philosophies

from 1820 to 1856; however, the second volume, people with whom she interacted and corresponded
which would have described the rest of her life and during her lifetime, Dossey focused on interpreting the
activities, was never published. Woodham-Smith’s spiritual nature of her being and her lifework, creating
book (1951) chronicled her entire life and was drawn yet another way of looking at Nightingale. In an intro-
primarily from original documents made available by duction/prelude to her descriptions of spirituality for
her family. This is the biography with which most nurses’ lives based on Nightingale’s writings, Macrae
Americans are familiar; it has endured as the defini- (2001) explores Nightingale’s personal spirituality as
tive biography of Nightingale’s life, and although she interprets it after review of writings and docu-
it is more balanced, it maintains a positive tone. ments. Lorentzon (2003) more recently has provided
F. B. Smith (1982) wrote Florence Nightingale: Reputa- a review and analysis of letters written between Night-
tion and Power, which is critical of Nightingale’s ingale and one of her former students that clearly dem-
character and her work. Small (1998) published yet onstrate her role as mentor.
another Nightingale biography titled Florence Night- Finally, all of Nightingale’s surviving writings are in
ingale: Avenging Angel. Although he is critical of the process of being published as The Collected Works
specific aspects of her character and work, Small is of Florence Nightingale. To date, fourteen of the sixteen
more balanced in his presentation. He notes that volumes have been published under the leadership of
Nightingale’s life “is better documented than perhaps sociologist and Nightingale scholar Lynn McDonald
any previous life in history” because of the vast (McDonald, 2001-present). This large project and
quantity of family and personal papers that remain other newly discovered/released documents continue
available today (Small, 2000). His concerns and to spawn articles and books that explore, interpret,
disagreements with other biographers have been and speculate on Nightingale’s life and work. In addi-
noted in reviews (Small, 2008). Small continues tion, she has published a new biography of Nightingale
to study Nightingale and updates his website with (McDonald, 2010a).
additional information about the Crimean War and
Nightingale. The controversy and intrigue about Theoretical Sources for Theory
Nightingale’s role, her status, and her confined life-
style continue; a London newspaper recently reported Development
on newly found letters related to the conflicts Night- Many factors influenced the development of Nightin-
ingale had with Sir John Hall (chief British army gale’s philosophy of nursing. Her personal, societal,
medical officer in the Crimea) (Kennedy, 2007). An and professional values and concerns all were integral
Internet search reveals thousands of sites that provide to the development of her beliefs. She combined her
various articles, resources, and commentaries about individual resources with societal and professional
Nightingale. Clearly, the world still is fascinated by resources available to her to produce immediate and
this unique woman. long-term change throughout the world.
The nursing community in the United States As noted, Nightingale’s education was an unusual
remains similarly fascinated by the life and work of one for a Victorian girl. Her tutelage by her well-
Nightingale. During their professional careers, Kalisch educated, intellectual father in subjects such as mathe-
and Kalisch (1983a, 1983b, 1987) published several matics and philosophy provided her with knowledge
critiques of media portrayals that provide a better and conceptual thinking abilities that were unique
understanding of the many histories of Florence for women of her time. Although her parents initially
Nightingale; their techniques may provide methods opposed her desire to study mathematics, they re-
of analyzing more recent publications and events for lented and allowed her to receive additional tutoring
persons interested in studying Nightingale’s life and from well-respected mathematicians. Her aunt Mai,
work. Dossey’s (2000) comprehensive book, Florence a devoted relative and companion, described her as
Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer, provides another having a great mind; this is not a description that was
in-depth history and interpretation of Nightingale’s used at the time for Victorian women, but it is one that
personal life and work. Using quotes from Nightin- was accepted for Nightingale. It remains unknown
gale’s own writings (diaries and letters) and from whether or not Nightingale was a genius who would