Select at least one piece of the Nightingale legacy that was new to you and tell us how this changed your understanding of this great woman and her contributions to nursing. 

One piece of Florence Nightingale’s legacy that was new to me was her advocacy for sanitation reform. Nightingale’s advocacy for sanitation reform was something I had never heard of before. After doing more research, I found that Nightingale was adamant about improving sanitary conditions within hospitals. This had an impact directly on the health and care of patients. It changed my perception of Nightingale because it showed her dedication to improve the quality of care for all patients, not just those who needed individual attention. This showed me how Florence’s work went beyond the scope of simply being a nurse and extended into public policy – an aspect of her life that is often overlooked or forgotten when discussing her legacy. Thus, learning more about this part of Nightingale’s life has allowed me to gain greater insight into why she is held in such high regard today and understand why many consider her “the founder of modern nursing.”