Florence NightingaleThe famous nurse

1820-1910

Florence Nightingale wasborn in 1820.

Her family were rich.She was taught at home by her father.

Florence was named after the city of Florence in Italy where she was born.

Florence’s sister was called Parthenope or "Pop" for short.

As a young woman Florence felt that God had called her to help others.

She wanted to be a nurse but her parents did not want her to become one.

She disobeyed her parents and trained as a nurse.

Florence had a pet owl called Athena.

In 1853 the Crimean war started.

In Britain there were newspaper reports of the terrible conditions wounded soldiers were suffering.

Florence was asked to go to the Crimea to help the wounded soldiers.

Florence was based at the Barrack Hospital at Scutari.

There were thousands of sick and wounded men at the hospital.

There were not enough beds for all the men.

The place was dirty and smelly.There were rats running around the wards.

There were blocked sewers under the hospital.

Rats ran around the hospital spreading diseases.

Many men were dying from diseases they caught in the hospital.

When they first arrived Florence and her nurses were not allowed to nurse the men.

Male doctors were in charge. They did not want female nurses in their hospital at first.

Some men had not had their clothes changed in two months.

At first the nurses were only allowed to clean the hospital.

When more wounded arrived doctors were forced to ask the nurses for help.

Florence bought things like mattresses, bedding, soap, knives and forks.

Florence's nurses wore a sash. It said "Scutari Hospital".

The nurses were disciplined and wore uniforms.

Men were given beef and sheep soup to eat.

The hospital was alot more cleaner and healthier for the wounded soldiers.

This is the shell of Jimmy, the pet tortoise in one of the wards in Scutari.

The soldiers thought that Florence Nightingale was a great lady.

The medicine chest Florence travelled with. It included essence of ginger and powdered rhubarb.

The shade of the lantern that Florence used is made from material covered with wax.

When Florence returned to Britain she was a heroine.

She had songs written about her because of her good work and was given many awards including one from Queen Victoria.

Florence didn't want to be famous.

She continued to write many letters which would put pressure on important people to change hospitals for the better.

She set up a training school for nurses at St Thomas's hospital.

Florence died at the age 90

The EndBy Chelsie Alexander 7xy