National Nurses Week: The Foundation and History
– Mary Shirkey-Bishop, Packwood
The healthcare profession is entitled a broad spectrum of healthcare careers. In May, nurses were honored during the National Nurses Week celebration which took place from May 6th-May 12th. Every year the American Nurses Association selects a theme and this year’s selection was, “Nurses Make the Difference”, to honor the varying roles of nurses and their impact on providing cares to others. The nurse is a professional who attends college, meets the requirements of clinical and apprenticeship/specialty rotations hours, receives a degree, and then passes a state exam to obtain a licensure to practice the title of Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. The Iowa Board of Nursing will issue the license for the nurse to practice as a licensed nurse. Once a nurse is issued the nursing license, continuing education requirements must be maintained to keep your license current every so many years.
To understand the history of National Nurses Week, let us reflect on an important figure in history: Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Tuscany in the country of Italy. Her parents named her after her birth city Florence, Tuscany. She achieved many roles as a social reformer, statistician and most importantly the founder of modern nursing. Her prominent contribution began with serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War. Her reputation and acts of kindness and compassion of making endless and tireless rounds at night to soldiers earned her the nickname, ”Lady With The Lamp”. She recognized the poor and horrific condition of the wounded. These conditions ranged from poor hygiene practices, neglected sewer maintenance, shortage of medical supplies and medications, overcrowding of the ill, and overworked staff that included nurses at the military hospital barracks in Scutari. As a statistician, Nightingale recorded a correlation between factors of overcrowding, defective sewers, lack of ventilation, and death of soldiers from diseases such as typhus, typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. She advocated for hospital sanitation such as proper hand washing hygiene and proper equipment to process patient food. Nightengale faced many challenges from hospital personnel and staff on her theories and written notes on her statistical findings but did prove effective in a decrease in the winter of 1954. A decrease in illness among the soldiers was 42%.
Her leadership skills continued as an educator on July 9th, 1860. The Nightingale Fund set up the first nursing school; the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas Hospital. The first training Nightingale nurses began work on May 16th, 1865 at Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary. All the leadership and management experience set the foundation of her first book titled, Notes on Nursing in 1859. It was the beginning of a curriculum for the Nightingale School and other nursing schools. This book was the first of its kind because of its historical importance of simple home health topic rules that were not recognized — the well-being and recovery of patients and hospitals needing education on hygiene and sanitation practices. Her role as an advocate for nurses (who were often regarded as ignorant and uneducated) meant allowing leadership full control and discipline over their nursing staff. She made many historical contributions and achieved several awards for her long-life commitment to modern nursing and social reform to health standards in hospital planning. She eventually slowed down due to a bedridden illness and depression. Nightingale passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 13, 1910, at the age of 90 in London. Her legacy is still taught in the curriculum of nursing classes.
Florence Nightingale is a prime example of a Nurse Who Made a Difference. Her core values of courage, selflessness, determination, industry, tenderness, and compassion are all key components of a noble profession. To patients, nurses make a difference in all aspects of patient-centered care. Patients trust nurses as health advocates, educators, listeners, counselors, angel in disguise, and caregivers. National Nurses Week developed over a period beginning in 1953 and has extended over 40 years. The process began with a group of people who remained persistent in their belief and fight to establish national recognition for nurses in the U.S. This group includes the ANA, legislators, local nurses, and health officials. The week-long event begins on a Monday (5/6) and ends on a Sunday (5/12) to recognize nurse contributions to society in all settings.
Nurses past and present are honored and recognized at their workplace and the activities will vary depending on place of employment. It is a chance for nurses to be highlighted for their personal and professional accomplishments. It is a time of reflection for each nurse’s journey of now and then.
The nursing profession is a noble and unique career. It allows flexibility and opportunities to specialize beyond your formal nursing training. Specialty nursing can include legal nurse consultant, forensic, free-lance writing, or administration in long-term care just to name a few. Whether you are an LPN, RN, ARNP, or a new graduate, knowledge is priceless and experience can make a lasting impression on patients or residents who receive care. I have been a nurse for 33 years and have served as a nurse manager, charge nurse, staff development coordinator, adjunct instructor, home care supervisor, and care plan coordinator. Basic nursing concepts dating back to Miss Nightingale remain intact for nursing theory and standards of practice. The discipline and courage she exhibited throughout her life continue to be an inspiration for all nurses, past, present, and future.
The Nightingale Pledge
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 m