Lights in the shadows: Florence Nightingale and others who made their mark

Abstract

Florence Nightingale, the ‘lady with the lamp’ became the image of ‘heroic womanhood’ (Bostridge 2004) when she returned from the Crimean War an iconic figure and ever since she has remained fated to wear the mantel of nursings’ leading light. But she wasn’t the only woman who made their mark or who undertook to risk their lives caring for the sick and injured, wounded and dying in the Crimea. Sadly, Nightingale’s iconic status has also succeeded in overshadowing the existence and the achievements of the many others who nursed during the Crimean war. These women, nuns, ordinary nurses, lady volunteers and others, working in Nightingale’s shadow, contributed much to the comforts of the wounded and dying and this article seeks to illuminate their presence and contribution. It also highlights other aspects of Nightingale’s work and in doing so, allows us to look into the shadows and shed more light on the others who were also there.Key points• Florence Nightingale is the most famous nurse to have returned from the Crimean War, but many others contributed much and sadly Nightingale’s iconic status has overshadowed others’ contribution.• Although Florence Nightingale contributed much during her time in the Crimea, her greatest influence on nursing resulted from her writings in the last 40 years of her life.• Three groups of officially sanctioned nurses travelled to the Crimea, lady volunteers, nuns and ordinary, paid nurses.• Others nurses travelled to the Crimea as unofficial nurses, the most famous being Mary Seacole.• Their contribution and recognition is often overlooked because of the iconic status achieved by Florence Nightingale.• It is easy to loose sight of the many nurses at the bedside and on the frontline of care whose contribution to patient wellbeing is central, but often overshadowed by the glare of Government agendas, health service targets or financial burdens.