Marlene Tablack, age 12, of Bessemer, Ala., for her question:
CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE?
Founder of the entire nursing field as we know it today was a British lady by the name of Florence Nightingale. She is responsible for introducing sanitary methods in nursing.
Nightingale's rich British parents were living abroad in 1820 when
their daughter was born. They named the little girl after the city,
where she made her debut: Florence, Italy.
Florence's early years were spent on the family's two estates in England. She learned all of the social graces from her mother and Greek, Latin, mathematics and philosophy from her father. Both parents were strict teachers.
Florence was a good student and enjoyed reading. She also enjoyed taking care of others. Very early in her life she found herself caring for visiting babies and for the sick employees on her parent's estates.
Her favorite game as a child was nursing her dolls when they came down with imaginary illnesses. She also saved the life of a pet dog when it broke its leg and was headed for sure death.
As Florence reached her teen years, her parents let her manage the family households.
Turning 16, Florence decided that she would spend her life helping others. She and her sister were presented to Queen Victoria and they entered British society. But Florence didn't care for parties and she turned down suitors.
Florence finally decided that she wanted to become a nurse. This was something that wealthy young ladies never considered. Florence's mother objected to the plan but the young lady showed her independence by moving to Paris, where she studied in a hospital.
Later Florence entered nursing training at the Institute of Protestant Deaconesses in Kaiserwerth, Germany, and at the age of 33 she was named superintendent of a women's hospital in London.
When Great Britain and France went to war with Russia in the Crimea in 1854, the Secretary of War asked Florence Nightingale to head the nurse battalion. She sailed off to war with a team of 36 nurses.
Florence's first job was monumental: 500 wounded soldiers returned from the Battle of Balaclava and the charge of the Light Brigade. Two thirds of the British forces had been killed or wounded in 25 minutes.
Florence and her crew readied a makeshift hospital, organized duty schedules and established kitchen procedures. At first doctors and officers resented what was regarded as the "dictatorship of a woman." But Florence would have no delays or slipshod work.
Florence's fine work made her famous. When she later caught a fever and almost died, even Queen Victoria worried about her.
By the end of the war Florence had brought about worldwide reforms in nursing.
Florence received a gift of $150,000 from a grateful public and used the money to found the Nightingale Home for Nurses at Saint Thomas Hospital in London. Florence died in 1910 at the age of 90.