Christian Men and Women

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was born 12th May 1820 to a rich, upper-class British family in Florence and was named after the city of her birth. From an early age her parents wanted her to marry a well connected gentleman but Florence refused. Florence Nightingale had a broad education and came to dislike the lack of opportunity for females. She began to visit the poor and became very interested in looking after those who were ill. She visited hospitals in London and around the country to find out about possible occupations for women there. She decided that in order to help people she would become a nurse.

She decided that she wanted to help soldiers in the Crimean War so off she went. On arrival, she found the conditions in the army hospital in Scutari appalling. The men were kept in rooms without blankets or decent food. Unwashed, they were still wearing their army uniforms even though their uniforms were still very dirty. This would have been very unhygienic and made the soldiers very ill. Florence wanted to help these soldiers. Military officers and doctors objected to Nightingale's views on reforming military hospitals. They believed that her comments were an attack on their professionalism and she was made to feel unwelcome. Nightingale received very little help from the military until she used her contacts to launch a campaign for improvement. Nightingale was assisted in this by Mary Seacole, but whereas Florence Nightingale and her nurses were based in a hospital several miles from the front, Mary Seacole treated her patients on the battlefield.

On several occasions Florence was found treating wounded soldiers from both sides while the battle was still going on. She is often known as the ‘lady with the lamp’. On her return to England in 1856, Nightingale was hailed as a heroine. She campaigned for improved nursing training and facilities and for the opening up of careers to women.

Some of the virtues that Florence Nightingale displayed throughout her life were Prudence, Justice, Hope and Love.