The Founder of Modern Nursing Had One Purpose in Mind – Serve God

Wisdom From History
The Founder of Modern Nursing Had One Purpose in Mind – Serve God

No matter what opposition she faced, Florence Nightingale refused to back down from her calling to serve others in any way she could.

Florence, born in England in 1820, had always had a tender heart. At the age of six, she nursed a shepherd’s dog back to health after his leg had been badly bruised. Her kindness saved the dog from being put down by his master.

At 16, Florence believed that God had called her to serve him. She enjoyed caring for the sick and decided to become a nurse. However, in those days, nurses did not have good reputations. No “proper” English woman became a nurse. It was not until she was 33 that Florence’s parents allowed her to serve as a nurse – and only then in a private hospital for gentlewomen.

However, Florence soon earned a reputation for outstanding service. So when the British government went to war with Russia in 1854, it decided to send her along.

Florence and her team of nurses had their own battle to fight. Conditions in army hospitals were horrible. More soldiers died there from disease, lack of food and water, and insufficient care than they did from their battle wounds.

To make matters even worse, many of the British officers resented Florence’s presence there. They ignored her recommendations. They refused to give her the help she needed. They were rude to her. One day, they even locked her out of the hospital.

Florence went to the hospital every day to visit the patients. And she wasn’t about to be stopped. Despite freezing temperatures, she waited outside the locked door for hours. Finally, the officers let her in.

Florence constantly put the comfort of others before her own. When she found out that the army was getting only six new shirts a month for the thousand soldiers in the hospital, she went immediately to the town market. There she purchased cart-loads of shirts for the men – at her own expense. She knew that without clean clothes, many of the men would not get well, for their own clothes were beds of dirt, lice, and disease.

Florence was a tireless servant. One friend said of her, “To give less than every ounce of strength would not have been enough for Florence – would not be what God expected of her. For God was the only master she would acknowledge; she was His representative at Scutari; the work she did was His work. In that thought was all the reward, all the pleasure she desired. Her only thought was, ‘Thy will be done.’”

Because of Florence’s devotion to others, many consider her to be the “founder of modern nursing.” She helped to make nursing a respected profession. Until her death in 1910, she fought to improve health care in the army. Because of her work and example, many lives have been saved – and many have found inspiration to serve.

– Lauren Currier

(You can read more about Florence Nightingale and many other incredible Christians in Dave and Neta Jackson’s book Hero Tales, Vol. 2: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes. This fabulous book explores the lives of many famous and not-so-famous Christians who led amazing lives for Christ. Their stories will inspire you and challenge you to live for Christ.)