Re-reading Nightingale: Notes on Hospitals

Celebrating the bicentenary of Nightingale’s birth and her legacy

“…In it Nightingale analyses characteristics such as the patient and location and sanitary arrangements of the hospital and, for example, specifies details such as the space between beds and the number of windows per bed, that bedsteads be of wrought iron and painted in cheerful colours. As Rafferty and Wall (2010) note, what is remarkable is just how much of what Nightingale noted then remains relevant today.…”

Is the art of nursing dying? A call for political action

“…Nightingale was an effective political advocator for nursing, and used her political acumen to fight for credibility and respect (Rafferty and Wall, 2010). This was Nightingale's art of nursing: the ability to control the nursing environment to create healing spaces for patients.…”

“…As Hektor (1994) states, Nightingale was an ‘insider’, ‘constantly trying to improve the existing order, while always working within that order’ (p. 42). Indeed, Nightingale’s relationship with the early women’s movement was undoubtedly complex, and it was her emphasis on advocacy and the continuing professionalisation of the nursing profession which ‘provoked fear’ in the medical profession that is testament to her reputation as a rebel and an activist (Garmarnikow, 1978: 112; Rafferty and Wall, 2010). The legacy of women doing caring work continues at present as the burden of care still falls disproportionately on women (Hektor, 1994; Nussbaum, 1999).…”

“…Nelson and Rafferty (2010) discuss how although Nightingale was best known for her work to improve care in hospitals and establish formal education for nurses, she was less known for her substantial work in public health and policy. Nightingale was an effective political advocator for nursing, and used her political acumen to fight for credibility and respect (2010). This was Nightingale’s art of nursing: the ability to control the nursing environment to create healing spaces for patients.…”

Florence Nightingale: The Mother of Nursing

“…One of these books, “notes on nursing” was published in 1860 that is the first book in nursing education. She insisted on the importance of building trusting relationships with patients ( 6 ). Nightingale believed that nurses’ presence with a client is a key stone for making a professional communication.…”