I chose to research Florence Nightingale because I am unfamiliar with her story and how she influenced the nursing world. Her texts, Notes on Matters Affecting the Health, Efficiency, and Hospital Administration of the British Army..., Subsidiary Notes, and Notes on Nursing are a collection of texts discussing everything from educating a higher class of nurses to basic hygiene.
Subsidiary Notes- Nightingale makes it very clear at the beginning of this text what her aims are. She states "the main subject I conceive to be, to improve hospitals, by improving hospital-nursing; and to do this by improving, or contributing towards the improvement, of the class of hospital-nurses." This call for improvement is a need for education. This reminds me of Fuller when she writes, "What Woman needs is not as a woman to act or rule, but as nature to grow, as an intellect to discern" (562). Intellect is power, and this knowledge that she calls for will benefit not only the women, but also health care as a whole. Nightingale is presenting women of her time an option to learn and an occupation to seek. Fuller writes, "I think woman need, especially at this juncture, a much greater range of occupation than they have, to rouse their latent powers" (570). So not only is Nightingale educating these women, but giving them a much needed occupation. Finally a time where women can test their skills.
During future research I would like to learn more about the previous conditions of army hospitals and why did she call for volunteer nurses? Were volunteers more helpful than the professional nurses?
British Army- This text is very structured and straight forward. It is organized by dates, subjects, and people. When I was reading this, it almost felt like she was keeping a personal log of events, ideas, and stock records for the army. She talks of improvements to be made to sleeping quarters and appropriate clothing. Nightingale creates side notes to clarify and summarize what is being stated in the main text. This would help a reader to find a section very quickly and would make for a convenient reference. I believe her main strategy in this text is to point out flaws where they are noticed and appropriate measures that need to be taken to correct the issues. It almost acts a precautionary text for future reference. I would like to know why this text is so very different from her other texts. Was she hired to keep a log or did she feel this would best convey her message?
Notes on Nursing- This text highlights the basics of nursing and proper care or the sick. She states, "disease is the want of fresh air, lights, warmth, quiet, and cleanliness." When reading this text, she made her point very simple and easy to comprehend. Her audience, whether they were nurses or housewives, would be able to apply her philosophies. She also presents her thoughts on healthy living. "The very elements of what constitutes good nursing are as little understood for the well as for the sick." Not only does she discuss the importance of mending the sick and wounded, but a healthier lifestyle would eliminate the need for nursing. Thus prevention is just as important as knowing how to care for the sick.
4 comments:
-Points made in your first section remind me of Gilman- the men's views on women in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.' With that story, we talked about how some men believed that women needed to avoid mental stimulus to stay mentally sane, while Gilman argued through 'The Yellow Wallpaper' that this was not true. It seems that Nightingale is arguing a similar point.
-The third section seems to have an interesting audience set up. You mentioned that she aimed it toward both nurses and housewives. I am wondering who he other works were meant for. Is the first one more for women, men, or both?
I too find myself very interested in the idea of the British Army book being kept as almost a log of sorts. do you think that she meant for this to become a reference to help future nurses?
For the first section Subsidiary Notes why do you think Nightingale felt the need to give such a straight forward answer as to why she was writing? was it purely for the fact that she wanted to improve the education for women or was there an underlying reason.
I am also looking at the Nighingale collection for this project. My favorite of the texts was the Notes on Nursing. While it is a simple presentation of facts, strategies, and procedures, it is easy to read and actually quite entertaining. Though I know nothing about modern nursing, I do find it amazing that the things Nightingale feels need explaining have not always been involved in medicine. This is probably confusing-for example: it seems so obvious to me that proper ventillation in imperative to health and reparation. Yet, it must not have then been so! I, like Cortney, am a bit confused about the intetion of the British Army text. As you said, it is simply a log. However, it doesn't seem that it was all kept by her and I am unfamiliar what role she had in the medical affairs of the Brtish Army. These are all things you and I will likely be looking furter into. Finally, and I think you commented some on this, while Nightingale's notes are meant to impove the field of nursing, she is also commenting on its gender constructs. I get the feeling there is a lot more to be learned here. I spent the last amount of time on the Subsidiary Notes but think they will be te most beneficial in uncovering more about Nightingale's purpose in terms of education and gender recnstruction, in relation to medicine and reparation.
I feel she presents her audience with a very direct and concise "mission statement" at the beginning of her text to convey the urgency of her tone. I plan to do further research into this, but I get the feeling that there is a dire need for nurses to receive an education, much like a doctor would. Perhaps she does not approve of the doctors that she is working with and how they handle situations. Continuing with this theme, while I was reading Notes on Nursing, I felt like she was frustrated that she had to point out that ventilation and hygiene are important. I am now very curious about the other medical professionals she came in contact with. Did she disagree with their methods?
Post a Comment