Today marks International Nurses Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
Beyond her stellar contributions during the Crimean war, leading to the emergence of her now-famous persona “The Lady with the Lamp”, her most important contribution was creating the first secular nursing school! Florence Nightingale thus laid the foundation of professional nursing at the St Thomas hospital which is now part of King’s College London. She was also a mentor to many women, who went on to become the first trained nurses in various countries, including the United States.
Healthcare professionals, medical personnel and caregivers need good educators and a supportive education system to not just perfect critical skills but also engender the warmth of caregiving, which goes beyond the clinical practice of Medicine.
As an educator myself and having taught pre-med and nursing students for many years in core clinical subjects, I too have had the privilege of learning from close quarters the import of this vital profession.
India too has a rich contemporary history of producing not only a great number of nurses but also highly capable, adaptable and conscientious individuals who have proved their mettle in some of the toughest situations including World War II.
So, here’s to our Nurses! May the light of Florence Nightingale’s lamp be a beacon for holistic education and the warmth needed for caregiving! Our Nurses. Our Future.
🎨Henrietta Rae (1881/91) courtesy Wellcome Library, London.
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