Florence Nightingale and Nursing Education

Florence Nightingale and Nursing Education: Peer response, minimum 100 words, 1 reference

Florence Nightingale influenced and advocated for the development of nursing education schools and programs (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016). Because of Nightingale and these programs other hospitals around the country started to notice their value and started to open nursing schools and programs that were similar. Lillian Wald and Lavinia Dock advocated for healthcare reform within the community to protect the public from uneducated nurses and to develop nursing standards (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016). Wald went on to introduce several legislative initiatives that would improve the health of children (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016). Wald advocated for public health nurses to improve the overall well-being of the community. These nursing advocates cared about nursing education. Wald and Dock took it further and advocated for nursing standards. Margaret Sanger advocated for women’s reproductive rights and contraceptives in a time when that was not a popular subject. She picketed, protested, and was arrested fighting for her cause and beliefs (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016). Nurses advocate for their patients each day, but they must also advocate for policy change on health issues. Nurses must remain engaged in the policy changing and making process. In order for this to occur nurses must remain informed about policies and they can influence nursing locally, regionally, and nationally (Polaschek, 2014). The American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing are organizations that nurses can join to advocate for changes within the profession (Dunn, 2012).

Florence Nightingale and Nursing Education