Christianity and the Early Development of Nursing

Study Notes

Pre-Nightingale Development of Nursing

One of the earliest records of Christian nursing is the Order of Deaconesses, similar to modern public health or visiting nurses.
Christianity taught that men and women are equal before God, leading to men and women holding the role of nurse.
The entry of women into nursing can be traced back to AD 300, due to improvements in the social position of Roman women.
The Benedictine Order, comprising men, was founded in the 6th century, increasing the number of women in nursing.
During the Middle Ages, the Crusades stimulated the expansion of nursing and healthcare, leading to the formation of military nursing orders for men and the establishment of hospitals.
The growth of cities in the 15th to 17th centuries led to health problems, prompting the founding of the Sisters of Charity in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul.
In the 18th century, cities in Europe continued to grow, leading to an increase in hospitals and nursing roles.

The Florence Nightingale Era (1820-1910)

Florence Nightingale went to study with the Sisters of Charity in 1853 and was later appointed superintendent of the English General Hospitals in Turkey.
She instituted major reforms in hygiene, sanitation, and nursing practice, reducing the mortality rate at the Barracks Hospital in Sentari, Turkey from 42.7% to 2.2% in 6 months.
Florence Nightingale was a proficient bedside nurse with a great concern for her patients, earning her the title "The Lady with the Lamp".
Organised nursing began in the mid-1800s under her leadership, transitioning from care provided by unfit individuals to a professional practice.
Florence Nightingale's beliefs about nursing form the foundation of modern nursing practice, influenced by her religious convictions and experience in the Crimean War.
She was a well-educated and skilled communicator, able to deal with government and politics, and possessed qualities of an epidemiologist, statistician, researcher, and politician.
Florence Nightingale's philosophy of nursing practice reflected the changing needs of society, focusing on the role of nursing in maintaining health and preventing disease.

Description

Explore the role of Christianity in shaping the early development of nursing, including the emergence of Deaconesses and the equality of men and women in nursing roles. Discover how Christian values influenced the care of the sick and needy. Learn about the pre-Nightingale era of nursing history.