• President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards to 15 nurses at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 11.

• The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in 1973 as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to the society.

• A total of 15 awards are given in the category of registered auxiliary nurses and midwife, registered nurses and midwife and registered lady visitor.

• The award is given to outstanding nursing personnel employed in central, states and Union Territories and voluntary organisations.

• The nurse in her/his regular job in the hospital or community settings, educational or administrative setting is eligible for the national award.

• Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a cash award of Rs 100,000 and a medal.

Who was Florence Nightingale?

• Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was a British nurse, social reformer and statistician. She was the founder of modern nursing. She was born in Italy and named after the city of her birth.

• As she grew up, she decided that she wanted to help the sick and injured, and wanted to become a nurse. 

• Her father gave his permission for her to go to Germany to train in 1844 in a hospital in Kaiserwerth. When she returned she became the superintendent of a hospital for gentlewomen in Harley Street, London.

• Britain was at war with Russia in a conflict called the Crimean War (1854-1856). The army base hospital at Scutari in Constantinople was unclean, poorly supplied with bandages and soap and the patients did not have proper food or medicine.

• In November 1854, Florence Nightingale arrived in Turkey with a group of 38 nurses from England. To ensure that the wounded were kept clean and fed well, Florence Nightingale set up laundries to wash linen and clothing and kitchens to cook food. This greatly improved the medical and sanitary arrangements at Scutari and reduced the death rate. The work of Florence Nightingale and her nurses set the standards for modern day nursing.

• Florence returned after the war as a national heroine. She had been shocked by the conditions in the hospital and began to campaign to improve the quality of nursing in military hospitals. 

• In October 1856, she met with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and in 1857 she gave evidence to a Sanitary Commission. This helped with the setting up of the Army Medical College.

• In 1859, Florence published a book called ‘Notes on Nursing’. She also founded the Nightingale School & Home for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1860. 

• However, Florence Nightingale was also remembered for her skills as a statistician and she became the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society in 1858.

• Florence Nightingale was the first woman to be awarded the ‘Order of Merit’.

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