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The reader is a nun and a practicing nurse who called me ‘Ms. Florence
Nightingale.’ I tell you, I think I heard some flattering things in my
life but have never been called that. So when I emailed my friend,
whose also a nurse, about it, she teased me endlessly. Are you kidding
me? I felt BS when someone compared my work to this seasoned young
writer, but being compared to the legendary, larger than life Florence
Nightingale was, well not me. Really.
I
asked myself what do I really know about Nightingale? Just the basics I
guess. I mean, I want to know her more just like I know the life of
Paris Hilton. I know her work during the Crimean war, her theory, her
school, her unbelievable determination and willingness to help others.
Now that is THE essence of Nursing. Wait, scratch that, SHE is the
essence of Nursing.
Florence Nightingale born in an affluent family received her classical
education primarily from her father. Despite this, she chose to study
abroad focusing on European hospital system. After which, she trained in
the Institute of St. Vincent de Paul in Alexandria, Egypt. She then
studied in Germany then became superintendent of the Hospital for
Invalid Gentlewomen in London.
After her major contributions during the Crimean war, which greatly
reduced the mortality rate of the sick and wounded by her techniques on
sanitation, a fund was raised in tribute to her tireless efforts which
then became the Nightingale School and Home for Nurses at Saint Thomas
Hospital in London. This marked the beginning of the professional
education of Nursing.
While I am a novice in this field, Florence Nightingale’s contribution
continue to mold us to become better nurses in this day and age. Before
her time, nurses were looked down on, most were untrained professionals
who considered the job as a menial chore. Through her efforts, the
stature of Nursing was raised to a medical profession with high
standards of education and important responsibilities.
Nightingale died in August 13, 1910. Five years after, a monument in
Waterloo Place, London was erected in her honor. Her writings include
Notes on Nursing (1860), which was the first textbook for nurses and was
later translated into so many languages; Notes on Hospitals (1859) and
Notes on Nursing for the Labouring classes (1861).
So
to my dear reader, who I know meant only well, I am definitely not
Nightingale. For the simple reason that no one can surpass what she has
done in this field. But while we cannot be her, all nurses can rejoice
and be thankful for she paved the way for us so half the job is done.
The rest is a choice we have to make every single day.
Email carina.maravilla@yahoo.com
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