Theory of Florence Nightingale 1860 (United Kingdom)

Florence Nightingale

Nursing: Notes on Nursing

Florence Nightingale, born in 1820, considered as the founder of nursing. During her career, she proposed a model regarding nursing, what it is and what it is not. Here, she explained very well regarding the factors influencing patient's health and various ways to modify it to achieve the optimum health.

She proposed four major concepts with ten canons at the age of 40 years. The major concepts and canons are

• Physical Environment- It consists of external factors in which patient is being influenced such as
• Ventilation and warming
• Light and noise
• Cleanliness of the rooms
• Health of the houses
• Bedding
• Personal cleanliness
• Variety

• Psychological Environment- It consists of factors which influences the emotional status of the patient such as  chattering hopes and advices. It doesn't mean to assure the patient regarding his/her disease condition falsely but, the nurses can keep the patient active by indulging him/her in activities.
• Nutritional Status- She noted the importance of taking healthy foods at frequent intervals rather than heavy meals. The food should be easily digestible, healthy and tasty for the patient.
• Nursing Care Plan and Management- It signifies the importance of planning the patient care with the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, calm environment and proper diet.

She identified the five major environmental factors for optimal health such as pure fresh air, pure water, effective drainage, cleanliness and especially direct sunlight. This theory emphasis on attending the patient with nursing care objectives, assess the negative factors in the environment, prepare a plan to manipulate the negative into positive ones, for example provide a wrinkle free bed, change the bed linen daily, open the windows for fresh air, keep dim lights in the night etc, implement it and evaluate the progress of the patient by frequent follow up.

Strengths and weakness

This theory had written in detail regarding the nursing: what it is. It paves the ways for the nursing administrators to propose policies and protocols for nursing care in hospitals and community.

I feel that this theory is not applicable to unconscious patients. Nowadays, patients are being treated in cool environment by using air conditioning method in hospitals, which is optimum temperature to curb the growth of micro organisms and for fresh air rather than out door polluted air and harmful ultraviolet radiations from the sun.