Coin marks Florence centenary
Friday August 13th, 2010
Today marks centenary of the death of the woman generally regarded as the founder of modern nursing.
Florence Nightingale gained fame in the mid-19th century when she saved the lives of hundreds of wounded soldiers by introducing basic hygiene and tough nursing standards.
A special £2 coin was released today by the Royal Mint to mark the event.
British nursing leaders paid tribute to her - pointing out that as well as being a nurse she was a talented statistician and member of the Royal Statistical Society.
Janet Davies, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "A hundred years after the death of Florence Nightingale, healthcare systems have changed, and many of the technical aspects of nursing have advanced considerably.
"But one thing has stayed the same - a patient looks to a nurse to be caring, compassionate and reassuring. The difference Florence Nightingale made to nursing continues to be relevant to everyone who wants to do the best for their patients, whether they are in the community, an intensive care ward, or a field hospital.
"As nursing changes and meets new challenges, Florence's work on hygiene, evidence and the value of care will maintain her legacy - she showed the world why caring matters."
Tags: Nursing & Midwifery | UK News
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