How did Florence Nightingale change the perception of nursing?

Florence Nightingale significantly transformed the perception of nursing through her dedication to professionalizing the field and emphasizing the importance of formal training and hygiene. Prior to her influence, nursing was often viewed as a low-status occupation, primarily associated with servitude or caring for the sick in a casual manner.

Nightingale's efforts began during the Crimean War, where she organized care for wounded soldiers and implemented sanitary reforms that dramatically reduced the death rate in military hospitals. Her commitment to improving health care standards not only saved countless lives but also showcased nursing as a crucial and skilled profession within the healthcare system.

Her establishment of formal training programs for nurses, most notably the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860, provided rigorous education and established nursing as an essential and respected profession. This approach helped to elevate the status of nursing in society, enabling women to enter a respected career and contributing to public health improvements. Therefore, her impact on nursing was profound, leading to greater acknowledgment and respect for the profession.