Forever improve the landscape of a relatively new profession, these passionate and prolific Nurses set increasingly high standards for the welfare of sick, injured and disabled. Each nurse must strive for both the advancement of care and condition of the people who need it most.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) – This British pioneer in the field (which was also a mathematician) insisted on more sanitary conditions for physicians and nurses during the Crimean War, which cut the mortality rate for soldiers wounded by a staggering amount . Florence Nightingale is a true legend of nursing whose work has changed the medical field dramatically for the better. It was also a tireless advocate for the advancement of women nurses and doctors.

Mary Todd Lincoln – better known as Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln proved his critics wrong (as Southern, his loyalty to the unionist cause is suspected) to put an hour almost impossible frequenting hospitals, cleaning wounds and comfort and nurture the soldiers who suffer unbearable pain.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) – Whitman is one of the most famous poets of americas of all time, Penning classics such as “Leaves of Grass.” But did you know that he served as a volunteer nurse in Washington, DC during the Civil War? He used the experience to write a collection of poems, Drumtaps.

Mary Mahoney Ezra (1845-1926) – The first African American registered nurse, Mahoney graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School Nurses in 1879, and went on to have an illustrious and distinguished career as a nurse .

Mary Breckinridge (1881-1965) – In 1925, Mary Breckinridge introduced an innovative and modern rural health car system in the United States. Call Nursing Service de la Frontera (FNS) Breckinridge ‘model provided professional medical services to one another uncared for rural people in southeastern Kentucky. The FNS used a decentralized system of nurse-midwives, district nursing centers, and hospital facilities, among other achievements, make sure that no patient was more than 6 miles from a nurse-midwife in this 1000-square mile region .

Edith Cavell - An English nurse, Cavell is the head of a nursing school and the Red Cross Hospital during the German occupation of Belgium during World War I. After helping the escape of more than 200 allied soldiers from occupied territory, was subsequently arrested and executed, an event that increased public sentiment against German aggression.

Florence Guinness Blake (1907-1983) – A distinguished pediatric nurse, Florence Guinness Blake is perhaps best known for his devotion to advanced education in pediatric nursing. In particular, Blake pediatric nursing taught at several universities, and established the graduate program in advanced nursing care of children at the University of Chicago in 1946.

Hazel W. Johnson-Brown – A retired former head of the United States Army Nurse Corps, Johnson-Brown was the first African American woman to reach the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army. It was the 16 th chief of the Army Nurse Corps, an organization to which he devoted 26 years of his life. He also served as director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing.

Elizabeth Gracen Neill (1846-1926) – Journalist, social reformer and nurse, Grace Neill was driven by the desire to create change. His brilliant career established the first Nurses’ Registration Act in the world in 1901. His life was devoted to social reform in the welfare of the poor and the suffrage of women. Their work began on course to a more responsible society.
[Source: Encyclopedia of New Zealand]

Sophie Mannerheim (1863-1928) – Sophie was a nurse known as a pioneer in the modernization of the profession in Finland. She was trained in nursing at the Nightingale School in St. Thomas Hospital in London. He was later appointed as head surgical nurse Helsinki Hospital and later elected President of the Finnish Nurses’ association, a position he held for 24 years. Baroness Sophie Mannerheim was a founder of the Children’s Hospital in Helsinki, and the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare.
[Wikipedia]

Virginia Avenel Henderson (1897-1996) – A nurse, researcher, theorist and author: Virginia Henderson graduated from the Army Nursing School, Washington, DC in 1921. She is an expert in nursing theory and graduated from the Teachers College of Columbia University with a Master’s degree in nursing education. Henderson is famous for the definition of nursing as a responsibility to help people, whether sick or not, and help them gain better health and recover under any circumstances. The International Council of Nurses his honor with the first prize Christianne Reimann in June 1985.
[Wikipedia]

Many great people have historically done its duty to put nursing at the forefront of civilization, but nowadays there are also nurses who deserve our attention.

Jeanne Prentice (Active CNM, South Dakota) – The protection of the Mother’s right to choose a professional to oversee home births in South Dakota, Prentice is leading the initiative called “PUSH!” The aim is to enable nurses midwives for deliveries at home. Currently, women in many states can only have births at home unattended if they are able to find a doctor licensed to come to his house. That is not happening though. Therefore, Prentice is leading the charge to ensure that the home not only possible, however, safely and viable opstion. [Source: Black Hills Portal]

Joyce Slinsky (retired RN, New Jersey) - A registered nurse for 45 years, with 39 of those years in the ER (emergency room) from John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, was presented with an official proclamation by the State Assembly and Senate in reverence to his career. On January 20, 2007 was honored as a retiree and member of great value in their community of Brick, New Jersey. [Source: Asbury Park Press]

You have the opportunity to make his mark in the field of nursing and health care. Embrace the race, get education, and become one more clear example in the treasure of tradition and nurses held. Take the first step toward making your dream of pursing a career in nursing a reality today.