The famous nurse

1820-1910

Florence Nightingale was

born 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 Parthenopeor "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 End

By Chelsie Alexander7xy