Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory and its influence on contemporary infection control

Abstract

BackgroundThe work of Florence Nightingale has laid the foundation for contemporary nursing practice, bringing the fundamental art and science of nursing into the 21st century. Her Environmental Theory was the beginning of a lifetime's work, being one of her many healthcare reforms which survive to this day as the practice of infection control. AimTo discuss the development of Nightingale's Environmental Theory in the 19th century and its application in contemporary 21st century nursing practice. MethodsA search of Nightingale's publications, biographers and theorists, selected journal articles and databases to build a picture of the origins, significance and practice of contemporary infection control. FindingsNightingale's Environmental Theory has changed the face of infection control exponentially. Today's guidelines are an integral part of nursing practice, to the extent that they continue to evolve, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic remains active around the world. DiscussionInvestigation of Nightingale's experiences in the Crimean War, of the disease, infection, death and dying that she encountered there and the subsequent development of her Environmental Theory and its application in 21st century nursing practice. ConclusionContemporary infection control is now an integral part of nursing and nursing practice the world over. It is an essential part of creating safe environments that help to promote good healing, good health and wellbeing and good patient outcomes, along with the opportunity for continued development to keep in step with changing patient and global need.