Florence Nightingale’s Lasting Legacy for Health Care

Abstract

Florence Nightingale is appropriately remembered as the person who, more than any other, establish nursing as a respected profession. Less well remembered are her roles as architect of the modern hospital, public health pioneer, and advocate for the health care of soldiers and veterans. As we celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we should also remember how Florence’s legacy touches almost every other aspect of the modern health care system. Florence Nightingale is appropriately remembered as the person who, more than any other, establish nursing as a respected profession. Less well remembered are her roles as architect of the modern hospital, public health pioneer, and advocate for the health care of soldiers and veterans. As we celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we should also remember how Florence’s legacy touches almost every other aspect of the modern health care system. Joe Tye, MHA, MBA, is chief executive officer and head coach of Values Coach Inc in Solon, Iowa and is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. He is the author or coauthor of 15 books and dozens of articles on personal success and organizational effectiveness. He can be reached at [email protected]