Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale

The founder of modern nursing

Background and Early Life

Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, the city which inspired her name. The younger of two daughters, Nightingale was part of an affluent British clan that belonged to elite social circles. Her mother, Frances Nightingale, hailed from a family of merchants and took pride in socializing with people of prominent standing. Despite her mother's interests, Nightingale herself was reportedly awkward in social situations and preferred to avoid being the center of attention whenever possible. Strong-willed, she often butted heads with her mother, whom she viewed as overly controlling.

Multiple Choice

Nightingale was named after

• a bird

• a flower

• a city

• her grandmother

Pioneering Nurse

In late 1854, Nightingale received a letter from Secretary of War, asking her to organize a corps of nurses to tend to the sick and fallen soldiers in the Crimea. Nightingale spent every waking minute caring for the soldiers. In the evenings she moved through the dark hallways carrying a lamp while making her rounds. The soldiers, who were both moved and comforted by her took to calling her "the Lady with the Lamp."

Open Ended

What would Florence Nightingale do if she lived during the Covid-19 days?