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CHAPTER 6 Florence Nightingale 71

relevant to the professional identity and practice Epidemiologists, public health professionals, and
of nursing. lay health care workers trace the origins of their
As one reads Notes on Nursing, sentences and disciplines to Nightingale’s descriptions of people
observations made by Nightingale can have great who perform health promotion and disease preven-
significance for the world of nursing today. Vidrine, tion. Sociologists acknowledge her leadership role
Owen-Smith, and Faulkner (2002) have identified in defining communities and their social ills, and
one of these observations as the guiding theory for in working to correct problems of society as a way
their work with equine-facilitated group psycho- of improving the health of its members.
therapy: “a small pet animal is often an excellent A century after Nightingale’s death, nursing com-
companion for the sick, for long chronic cases espe- munities throughout the world gave special attention
cially” (Nightingale, 1969, p. 102). Although a horse to her life and work. In particular, the Journal of
may not qualify as a “small animal in the sickroom,” Holistic Nursing published multiple articles (cited in
these authors have found that their therapy is suc- this chapter). Of special note is Beck’s (2010) article
cessful with their patients. Indeed, Nightingale is a identifying Seven Recommendations for 21st Century
testament to her own theory; it is reported that she Nursing Practice based on Nightingale’s philosophy
had 60 cats over her lifetime (she was chronically offering a clarion call for nurses throughout the world
ill for much of her adult life and lived to 90 years to emulate the work of Nightingale.
of age). Nurses, both students and practitioners, would be
wise to become familiar with Nightingale’s original
writings and to review the many books and documents
Summary that are increasingly available (McDonald, 2001 to
Florence Nightingale is a unique figure in the history present). If you have read Notes on Nursing, rereading
of the world. Her picture appeared on the English it will reveal new and inspirational ideas and provide a
10-pound note for 100 years. No other woman has brief look at her wry sense of humor. The logic and
been and still is revered as an icon by so many people common sense that are embodied in Nightingale’s
in so many diverse geographical locations. Few other writings serve to stimulate productive thinking for the
figures continue to stimulate such interest in, contro- individual nurse and the nursing profession. To emu-
versy about, and interpretation of their lives and late the life of Nightingale is to become a good citizen
work. The nursing profession embraces her as the and leader in the community, the country, and the
founder of modern nursing. world. It is only right that Nightingale should continue
Nightingale defined the skills, behaviors, and to be recognized as the brilliant and creative founder of
knowledge required for professional nursing. Rem- modern nursing and its first nursing theorist. What
nants of these descriptions serve the nursing profes- would Nightingale say about nursing today? Whatever
sion well today, although their origins probably are not she would say, she probably would provide an objec-
known by today’s nurses. tive, logical, and revealing analysis and critique.
Because of scientific and social changes that have
occurred in the world, some of Nightingale’s observa-
tions have been rejected, only to find after closer CASE STUDY
analysis that her underlying beliefs, philosophy, and
observations continue to be valid. Nightingale did not You are caring for an 82-year-old woman who has
consciously attempt to develop what is considered a been hospitalized for several weeks for burns that
theory of nursing; she provided the first definitions she sustained on her lower legs during a cooking
from which nurses could develop theory and the accident. Before the time of her admission, she
conceptual models and frameworks that inform pro- lived alone in a small apartment. The patient
fessional nursing today. Professionals increasingly reported on admission that she has no surviving
identify her as their matriarch. Mathematicians family. Her support system appears to be other
revere her for her work as an outstanding statistician. Continued