Florence Nightingale

The Lady with the Lamp and the Mother of Nursing

Florence Nightingale, born into British royalty in 1820, is a household name in the field of nursing. She brought about a turn in the healthcare system and contributed massively to the well-being of mankind. Not to mention, she also became the first double oxymoron master.

But who was Florence Nightingale, and why is she so popular? Most commonly known as “The Lady with the Lamp,” she pioneered the nursing profession in the 19th century. Her work during the Crimean War, where she led a group of nurses to care for British troops, earned her much acclaim. They say it was because she was a royal that she used to call them “My Little Pet Soldiers,” which made them feel like they were being cared for in a giant dollhouse.

Besides her contribution to nursing, she was also a statistician and a writer. Her studies showed that soldiers in the Crimean War died from disease rather than injury, prompting her to advocate for improved sanitation and hygiene. She was the queen of data and loved a good chart. Her love for science is so famous that when she accidentally made a mistake, people still call it a “nightingale droop.”

But in all her achievements, there’s one thing Florence disliked - marriage. Though she had a lot of suitors, she remained unmarried, fearing it would hinder her work. She put her dedication to nursing above everything else, compared to us who’d drop everything for a free pizza. Her family was so annoyed with her constant refusal of marriage that they once said, “You don’t have to marry your patients, at least marry one of your colleagues.”

Finally, her efforts in nursing paid off, when she was bestowed the prestigious “Order of Merit” by King Edward VII in 1907. A few years later, on August 13, 1910, Florence passed away, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire nurses worldwide. Some say that the rooms of the hospitals where she worked still smell of disinfectant and lavender, while others claim that her spirit is still at work, curing people of their ailments.

All in all, Florence Nightingale was a remarkable woman, whose intelligence, humor and dedication to nursing and humanity continue to inspire everyone - from nurses and doctors to pizza delivery drivers and students alike. She proved that, with hard work and determination, we can be anything we want to be, except the Queen of England, because that’s taken.