15 Florence Nightingale Facts Every Nurse Should Know (Part 3)

 Most students, in nursing school or otherwise, have heard of the famous Florence Nightingale. Yet many may not know some of the most interesting and amazing facts about her life that make her such an inspiration to those in the nursing profession around the world. In honor of National Nurse Week, take some time to read through these facts about one of the most famous pioneers in the field. You might just get inspired to lead your own health care revolution

11. In 1883, Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale with the Royal Red Cross and in 1907 she became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit. She is still a highly honored figure in England and around the world, with numerous awards and colleges named after her.

12. Nightingale's book Notes on Nursing is still a classic read for nursing students today. It may not be up-to-date, but the fundamentals it lays out for patient care, cleanliness and treatment can be applied to modern health care settings as well.

13. In the 1870s, Nightingale mentored Linda Richards, "America's first trained nurse." When she returned to the US with her newly acquired training, Richards was able to establish high-quality nursing schools, spreading information, training and expertise throughout the US and Japan.

14. Nightingale was offered a place of burial in Westminster Abbey. This honor isn't handed out lightly and is usually reserved for royals, cultural elites and religious figures. Yet Nightingale's family chose a more humble burial for her, one that she would surely have appreciated, in the graveyard at St. Margaret Church in East Wellow, Hampshire.

15. Her early writings are considered major texts in English Feminism. While not published until after her death, essays like Nightingale's "Cassandra" showcase her feelings about a woman's role in the world quite clearly. Nightingale believed that women were often unnecessarily deemed as helpless when they were quite capable and chided women like her sister and mother who chose a life of leisure despite being highly educated.