The Impact of Florence Nightingale on Nursing
Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She was born in 1820 to a wealthy Italian family, and at the age of 24 felt called by God to help the poor and sick. While most people know that Nightingale was influential in the field of nursing, they might not know how much she truly impacted it.
Nightingale essentially established the profession. Before she came along, nurses considered their jobs to be unimportant and of low-status, as they were untrained and were not taught about nursing, but learned through experience. Nightingale's efforts turned nursing into a respectable profession raising the standards by incorporating education and responsibilities into the job. Nurses were no longer looked down upon, but became respected and appreciated.
She also improved hospitals. Nightingale helped improve hospitals and still influences their modern design. As a nurse in the Crimean War, she took notice of the dirtiness and deterioration of the military hospitals. By making sanitary improvements and establishing standards for clean and safe hospitals, she helped bring down the death rate for soldiers being treated in them. In her book Notes on Hospitals she explained how they could be improved by increasing ventilation, adding windows, improving drainage, and increasing space.
Nightingale established nursing education by writing the first textbook on the subject in 1960, entitled Notes of Nursing. This book outlined the principles of the nursing profession, provided advice on how regular women could care for their families, and how illness could be properly managed. In her writing, Nightingale emphasized the importance of patient observation to figure out their symptoms and needs, as to be able to provide the right care. The importance of sanitary conditions was also stressed, as well as warmth, clean air, light in rooms, and a nutritious diet.
Florence Nightingale opened the first nursing school in 1960, which was the beginning of professional education and training in the field. Her school, the Nightingale School for Nurses, was a part of St. Thomas' Hospital in London, and offered the first official training program for nurses so that they could work in hospitals, help the poor, and teach others. The training emphasized the important of patient home care and taught students how to care for the sick at home and the practice of midwifery. Many of the students at the school continued on to be matrons at major hospitals in England, as well as went on to establish their own training programs throughout the world.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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