Notes on Nursing

First published in 1860, this short work was developed by nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale for use at her training school in England, but it is meant for anyone entrusted with the well-being of another and offers commonsense suggestions for all caregivers charged with looking after the sick and injured. While some of the information is dated, there remains a wealth of timeless advice, as well as an intimate peek into a moment in medical history. Topics covered include: . ventilation and warming . noise . bed and bedding . light . cleanliness . and the benefit of variety in a patient's surroundings British nurse and teacher FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (1820-1910) established the Nightingale Training School in 1860 and transformed nursing from a profession for poor women into a noble occupation. She was awarded the Order of Merit by the Queen of England in 1907 for her contributions to medicine.

Florence Nightingale, history's most notable nurse, earned her fame during the Crimean War. Nightingale led a group of three dozen nurses to Constantinople to serve in British military field hospitals, where female nurses had previously been forbidden. She convinced army officials to change terrible conditions in the hospitals, thus earning the gratitude of soldiers--and celebrity in her native England. When the war ended in 1856, she returned to London and continued her reform campaign. Her outspoken Notes on Matters Affecting the Health, Efficiency and Hospital Administration of the British Army (1857) and Notes on Hospitals (1859) helped create changes in hygiene and overall treatment of patients. She also founded the groundbreaking Nightingale Training School for nurses, and in later years published dozens of books and pamphlets on public health. Nightingale was awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria in 1883, and in 1907 became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit.