Florence Nightingale Contribution In Nursing

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care (Gretter, 1935).
Nursing is defined by the American Nurses Association as the “protection, promotion, and optimization of health and

Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, and she became a nurse during the Crimean War. It was there, on the frontline, that she rose to fame for her contributions to the practice of nursing. Nightingale’s contributions that have impacted nursing include advising the public on processes to control infection. She also taught nurses how to properly assess their patients’ condition, which has become a core element of nursing practice today. Additionally, she provided therapeutic communication, by displaying empathy and compassion, while ministering to patients who were on their deathbed. Finally, she required patients of lower acuity to provide care for themselves and their environment (“The lady with the lamp and her contributions to modern nursing”, 2015).
Over one hundred years after Florence Nightingale’s death nursing has come a very long way. Today, it is more complex than could have ever been imagined over a century ago. In fact, the profession of nursing has evolved considerably in just the last fifty years of practice. According to Kathleen Stevens (2013), it was not until the 1960s that nursing education was established as an applied science. Now, not only are nurses educated, but also they have ethical standards to uphold, have autonomy in their practice, and are recognized by the government through

Nursing research has been used to legitimize the profession of nursing as well as the education of future nurses. According to Polit and Beck (2006. p. 4), nursing research is: “the systematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about issues of importance to nurses, including nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing administration.” The primary role of a professional nurse is to be an advocate for their patient’s best interest. Through research, nurses are able to collect reliable information on the best courses of treatment in order to reduce negative responses to illnesses. Nursing research is pertinent for continuing to advance the profession and promote the best care possible for