Written by: Aaron Singh - 32035, Grade IV
Posted on: 27 July, 2023
We got to know about Florence Nightingale from our monthly reading book. I would like to share my understanding with everyone.
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12 in Florence, Italy. Her mother’s name was Frances and her father’s name was William Edward who all were in a wealthy family. She spent most of her childhood in Embley Park. Unlike many girls then, she got a better education than them from her father.
She thought of being a nurse but her family rejected the idea since it was known as a job for lower-class people and high-class people were meant to be well-married and work at home. But Florence Nightingale denied these things and devoted her life to nursing.
In 1850, she went to Germany to learn nursing. She rejected two marriage proposals to avoid it from interfering with her calling for health. In 1853, the Crimean War began against Russia and Britain. Florence was called to Istanbul, Turkey with a group of 32 to 38 nurses to care for the soldier's health.
She saw the poor health care and wanted to make a change. The soldiers were dying mostly due to diseases caused by lack of hygiene rather than injuries. She made huge changes which decreased the death rate by 2%.
She carried a lamp to keep an eye on the sick and injured soldiers at night, so she was called the lady with the lamp.
After the war ended she got very sick and went back home. Even when she was sick she worked from home. She spent her final days like that and on August 18 1910 she sadly passed away.
