So - what is Florence Nightingale's story?

Florence Nightingale 12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was an English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. 

Often called “the Lady with the Lamp,” Florence Nightingale was a caring nurse and leader. In addition to writing over 150 books, pamphlets and reports on health-related issues, she is also credited with creating one of the first versions of the pie chart. However, she is mostly known for making hospitals a cleaner and safer place to be.

Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May 1820 into a wealthy and well-connected British family at the Villa Colombaia, in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, and was named after the city of her birth. Florence's older sister Frances Parthenope had similarly been named after her place of birth, Parthenope, a Greek settlement now part of the city of Naples. The family moved back to England in 1821, with Nightingale being brought up in the family's homes at Embley, Hampshire, and Lea Hurst, Derbyshire. When they returned to England in 1821.  Growing up in a wealthy family, Florence Nightingale was home-schooled by her father and expected to get married at a young age. However, when she was a teenager, Nightingale believed she received a “calling” from God to help the poor and the sick.

Even though it was not a respected profession at the time, Nightingale told her parents that she wanted to become a nurse. Her parents did not approve of her decision and wanted her to get married and raise a family. Nightingale still wanted to be a nurse and refused marriage. Eventually, her father allowed her to go to Germany for three months to study at Pastor Theodore Fliedner’s hospital and school for Lutheran Deaconesses. After finishing her program in Germany, Nightingale went to Paris for extra training with the Sisters of Mercy. By the time she was 33, Nightingale was already making a name for herself in the nursing community. She returned to England in 1853 and became the superintendent and manager of a hospital for “gentlewomen” in London.

When the Crimean War began in 1854, the British were unprepared to deal with the number of sick and injured soldiers. The lack of medical supplies, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions caused many people to complain. Newspapers began to report about the terrible state of medical care. The Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert asked Nightingale to manage a group of nurses that would go treat the wounded soldiers. She agreed, and on November 4, 1854, Nightingale and 38 nurses arrived at the British camp outside of Constantinople. When they got there, the doctors were unwelcoming because they did not want to work with female nurses. However, as the number of patients increased, the doctors needed their help. The nurses brought supplies, nutritious food, cleanliness, and sanitation to the military hospital. They also provided individual care and support. Nightingale was known for carrying a lamp and checking on the soldiers at night, so they gave her the nickname “the Lady with the Lamp.” Within six months, Nightingale and her team transformed the hospital. The death rate went down from 40 percent to 2 percent because of their work.

When Nightingale returned from the war, she continued to improve the conditions of hospitals. She presented her experiences and her data to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1856. This data was the reason they formed a Royal Commission to improve the health of the British Army. Nightingale was so skilled with data and numbers that in 1858 she was also elected as the first woman member of the Royal Statistical Society. In 1859, Nightingale continued to spread her healthier medical practices by helping to set up the Army Medical College in Chatham. That same year, she published a book called Notes on Nursing: What it is, and What it is Not. Her book gives advice on good patient care and safe hospital environments. As a result of her efforts during the war, a fund was set up for Nightingale to continue teaching nurses in England. In 1860, the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas’ Hospital was officially opened. In her later years, Nightingale was often bedridden from illness. However, she continued to advocate for safe nursing practices until her death.

Although Florence Nightingale died on August 13th, 1910 at the age of 90, her legacy continues. Two years after her death, the International Committee of the Red Cross created the Florence Nightingale Medal, that is given to excellent nurses every two years. Also, International Nurses Day has been celebrated on her birthday since 1965. In May of 2010, the Florence Nightingale Museum at

St. Thomas’ Hospital in London reopened to honour the hundredth anniversary of Nightingale’s death.

 

There is a lot more detailed information to read but I have just tried to pull out some main aspects.  You will notice I have highlighted and underlined part of her story.  Despite the opposition, she believed she was called by God to help the poor and the sick and would not let this go. 

I have heard many people share who are serving God in particular ministry and there is often an aspect of opposition or lack of understanding from family, even Church.  When God speaks, it can hard to hang onto what He has said, but hang on we must.   When our own doubts get in the way and cause confusion, go back to what He said.

We have heard two things down the years which I have found helpful:-

• often you will already be doing something in a smaller way that God wants to take hold of and do greater things with and expand.

• If you hear something 'out of the blue', 'for the first time', wait on God, He will confirm His Word.

If you relate back to what I shared in last months blog, God will choose who He will choose!!

In the example of Moses:-

• he endured the contempt of Pharoah

• he had the stubbornness of the Hebrews who complained and rebelled

• he faced the criticism of Miriam and Aaron

• when the 12 spies came back, ten of them with negative report, he stood fast

• he faced a conspiracy against him by Korah and Dathan

He had to remain resolute and determined and trust in God alone.

 

I don't want to say too much more on this because I actually think it follows on from what I posted last month.  I hope it is of encouragement.  God will choose who He will choose, but it is not always easy following His call.