Last Friday, we took a party of our new nurses (including those who have come to work at Mildmay from abroad) on an educative field trip to the museum dedicated to the extraordinary Florence Nightingale.
Florence Nightingale is considered to be the founder of modern nursing and a revered figure in the Victorian era. Not only did she leave an indelible mark on the nursing profession, but she also had a special connection to the Mildmay Deaconesses, making this journey even more poignant.
Florence Nightingale's impact on nursing cannot be overstated. She was a trailblazing figure who revolutionised the nursing profession. She is best known for her work during the Crimean War, where she led a team of nurses in providing care to wounded soldiers. Nightingale's efforts helped to improve the sanitary conditions in hospitals and to reduce the death rate among patients.
During her time, she held the Mildmay Deaconesses in high regard. These women were among the first trainee nurses in the country, and Nightingale's interest in their work made her connection to Mildmay all the more significant, hailing "Every attempt to train in practical activity all female missionaries". Florence Nightingale was also a pioneer in the use of statistics to improve patient care, and her work helped to improve the lives of millions of patients around the world. She remains an inspiration to nurses worldwide.
Here are some of the things that our nurses said about the field trip:
"It was really interesting to learn about the history of nursing and how Florence Nightingale revolutionised the profession."
"I was inspired by Florence Nightingale's dedication to her work and her commitment to improving patient care."
"I'm glad that we had the opportunity to visit the museum and learn about this important figure in nursing history."
"Fascinating to think about the type of character that would have managed a complex team of nurses from very different backgrounds in challenging circumstances"
"Interesting to learn about early forms of safeguarding in hospitals"
"Interesting to learn about the structure of wards and how that impacts on infection control"
"Interesting to learn about the early focus on hand hygiene"
"Interesting to learn about Victorian nursing team dynamics"
"Happy patients make for happy nurses!"
The field trip, led by Teri, our Registered and Compliance Manager, and Comfort, our Lead Clinical Nurse, to the Florence Nightingale Museum, provided our nurses with a well-deserved respite and an opportunity to bond outside the walls of Mildmay.
It was a day filled with education, inspiration, and shared experiences. As they work tirelessly to provide exceptional care to our patients, it is essential to create moments like these that foster camaraderie and rejuvenation.
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. She was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. She was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War, and her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded established her image as the "Lady with the Lamp". She died on August 13, 1910, in London, England