Lessons Learnt
Florence Nightingale`s father, William Edward Shaw came from a family which greatly supported humanitarian and liberal courses. Nightingale credits him for her great intellectual ability since he ensured that she was able to learn a lot and also become fluent in Latin, Greek, German, and Italian dialects. Her father held the belief that the female mind ought to be engaged in things that existed beyond gender defined duties. Surprisingly, Nightingale was weak and frail yet this did not deter her from attaining her dreams.
Also, despite coming from a wealthy background, she discovered that her greatest desire was to serve humanity. When she first experienced great illness, Nightingale got to dislike the life full of ease which she had previously delighted in and started to realize that she had a calling from God. Besides during the winter of 1837, all of the inhabitants of the Nightingale household suffered from influenza and Nightingale took up the responsibility of nursing them, and it is at this point that she felt the great urge to be needed. On February 7, 1837, she, therefore, received a calling from God to serve humanity ( Fitne, 1990 ). Nightingale established the environmental theory which focused on the external conditions and influences which affect the lives of all living organisms. She connects this theory with the ailing by indicating that a suitable environment is necessary for the recovery of patients ( Fitne, 1990 ). Based on this, she suggests some of the effective means through which a favorable environment can be enabled. For instance, through effective and efficient lighting, heating, noise, ventilation and cleaning. Her actions, therefore play a vital role in enhancing the lives of individuals.
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Reason for choosing the Video
I chose to watch this theorist`s video since she is the proprietor of the environmental theory; an aspect which is very critical to the contemporary society. Besides Florence Nightingale offers the best examples to nurses on how they should undertake their practice. Her devoutness is unrivaled and hence she ends up offering the perfect example on how ailing individuals ought to be treated. She also proves that one`s background does not necessarily determine the path that a person is going to take in their life. Despite coming from an affluent family, she disregards her parent`s wishes and chooses to heed to God`s calling, undeterred by earthly possessions. She derives satisfaction from ensuring that other people are happy and contented with their health. Moreover, she manages to reveal that the main cause of death was due to some preventable illnesses acquired by the soldiers. In this case, by providing adequate care to them, it is possible for a nation to significantly reduce the number of fatalities.
Agreement with the Theorist
There are parts of my personal philosophy where I agree with this theorist. For instance, the idea that she should focus on what her heart desires even if it threatened soiling the reputation of her family. I also agree with Nightingale on the notion that nursing`s goal is to assist patients and satisfy their needs. This does not, therefore, necessarily indicate that a nurse ought to initiate healing, but rather that they should place the individual in the best position possible.
Surprising Details
One of the things that surprised me in the video is the idea that Florence Nightingale came from a wealthy family and instead of following in father`s footsteps and partaking in the family business, she chose to serve the people. I had initially held the perception that Florence came from a meek and humble background but this is not the case. Also, the idea that Nightingale and her elder sister Frances Parthenope did not get along until they were in their forties is quite startling. One would not expect that Nightingale could also have faced challenges in building a formidable relationship with someone in her family, yet she is widely acknowledged for her humanitarian efforts and spirit of devotion towards nursing.
Recommendation
Concurrently, I would recommend the video to another student since it bears a lot of valuable teachings especially those pertaining to the nursing practice. Nightingale devotes her entire life to serving the society wholeheartedly. Throughout the course of her mission, she managed to save numerous lives of individuals. Besides, she did not despair at any point despite the constant challenges which she experienced. It is through such devotion that even those who had initially detested her calling such as Nightingale`s father finally got to embrace it (Fitne, 1990) . By viewing this video, one also gets to learn that everything is possible and that a person`s dream is always valid so long as someone has faith and maintains it throughout all their works. At one point Nightingale contemplates suicide due to the indictments she faces from her mother and sister, however, she looks forward to better things in life and desires to live a life that exalts God.
Value Received from watching the Film
Finally, there is a lot of value that one can derive from watching this film. For instance, the idea that every person is created for some specific purpose and that God has outlined this for everyone is viable. Despite having, suitors, Nightingale does not give in to the thought of marriage since she believed she had a greater calling which was to serve others in a personal capacity. Moreover, she felt the great urge to devote herself towards this course, irrespective of whether her parents agreed to it. Similarly, individuals ought to possess this kind of yearning to do whatever they deem most appropriate for their lives. In the end, they end up leading a life full of satisfaction.
Reference
Fitne (Producer). (1990). Florence Nightingale: Life and Work [streaming video]. Retrieved from https://www-fitnenet.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/vlrc/user/content/nt_fl/nt_fl/video/nt_fl1_640.mp4
