10 Most Influential Female Nurses of All Time

48 Comments

Nurses impact lives every day. But once in a while, a nurse comes along who touches the lives of the world, and not just her patients. These women went above and beyond for the field of nursing. They served in wars, broke down racial barriers, and campaigned for women’s rights. They have become role models for women everywhere, not just nurses. However, nurses can be especially proud to share a title with these 10 ladies.

1. Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale

“The Lady with the Lamp” is the quintessential nurse figure. She cared for the poor and distressed, and became an advocate for improving medical conditions for everyone. In her early life, Nightingale mentored other nurses, known as Nightingale Probationers, who then went to on also work to create safer, healthier hospitals.

In 1894, Nightingale trained 38 volunteer nurses who served in the Crimean War. These nurses tended to the wounded soldiers and sent reports back regarding the status of the troops. Nightingale and her nurses reformed the hospital so that clean equipment was always available and reorganized patient care. Nightingale soon realized that many of the soldiers were dying because of unsanitary living conditions, and, after the war, she worked to improve living conditions.

While she was at war, the Florence Nightingale Fund for the Training of Nurses was established in her honor. After the war, Nightingale wrote Notes on Nursing and opened the Women’s Medical College with Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell.

International Nurses Day is celebrated on Nightingale’s birthday, May 12, each year.

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Christina1973

over 4 years ago

74 comments

Fascinating, and debatable, collection of influential nurses. I really enjoyed reading it!
Account Removed

over 4 years ago

I feel that Louisa May Alcott belongs on this list. She served as a nurse in the Civil War and helped change the way society viewed women. Until then, women were not considered intelligent enough or emotionally mature enough to withstand the trauma of treating combat wounded soldiers.
Also, glad to see Mabel Keaton Staupers included, but there have been many many others, nameless and faceless that have helped to pave the way. I love ALL my sisters and am glad to see them recognized and appeciated!
ccioffi

over 4 years ago

22 comments

Orem?
Kimmie_T

over 4 years ago

66 comments

This is great!! I hardly ever hear or learn about nurses of color. I am so proud to learn about Mabel Keaton Staupers. Please post more articles, such as these.
nursejendoll

over 4 years ago

20 comments

I plan to be one on the list.
Ns_Eva

over 4 years ago

6 comments

Thanks to them
jumoke

almost 5 years ago

2 comments

hey wonderful i pray my name should be there soonest
pezzy

almost 5 years ago

388 comments

Hey, why am i not on the list??
mashell4

almost 5 years ago

1066 comments

this is a very good article representing the most influential nurses. I knew about the majority of them but some I didnt. thanks
teamrn

almost 5 years ago

52 comments

Although I don't believe a nurse, Susanne Gordon has written many books that further the cause of nursing into where it should be in the 21st century and advocates for nurses, especially "From Silence to Voice."

TeamRN
Business2CNA2RN

almost 5 years ago

40 comments

Hey? Why isnt Vicki Milazzo on here? lol

http://www.legalnurse.com/aboutus/aboutus_01.html
Business2CNA2RN

almost 5 years ago

40 comments

Mary Eliza Mahoney is so inspirational! thats my number 1 and so is Mabel Keaton Staupers too if it wasnt for her i probably couldnt even enter a nursing school!
emtpixie

almost 5 years ago

328 comments

Agreed, joilena. Clara Barton in my opinion is THE most influential nurse in history. Florence Nightingale may have been the first that we know of, and she did alot of things, but Clara "perfected" it and then some. If you're interested the best book (in my humble opinion) out there is " Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War" by Stephen B. Oates. It's well worth reading! There is even a few items about Dorothea Dix in this book.
joilena

almost 5 years ago

6 comments

you know not only is she awesome but she was probaly the most influential and inspiriring awesome article
emtpixie

almost 5 years ago

328 comments

Awesome article...I hope it stays around for a long time. Just one little thing, though. Not to split hairs, but in the article about Clara Barton it says that she entered nursing school. This isn't actually true. She went to "college" (for lack of a better term for the school she attended) in NY and became a teacher. She went back to her home state (Massachusetts) and founded a school, which she wasn't allowed to become superintendent of because she was a woman! She wound up in Washington D.C. (Then Washington City) hand-writing patents in the US Patent office (where she was the only full time female employee, though she was listed as a temp. because of current laws regarding female workers). She felt an urge to do her part in the Civil War after her father passed. The story is rather long and complex from there. Sorry for getting up on the soapbox, I just detest history getting distorted.