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Nurses Throughout History
This International Nurses Day, we feel it's more important than ever to highlight the significant contributions made to nursing by incredible women from a range of backgrounds. That's why we've compiled some information on those that we think are notable, to serve as a reminder of how far we've come.
Is there anybody else you'd like to see in this list? Let us know on Twitter @SageHealthInfo
Goldie Brangman
(1917-2020)
Goldie was an American nurse, educator, and advocate for equal rights in the field of nursing. She co-founded the School of Anesthesia at Harlem Hospital and became the hospital's director of nursing. She was also the first African American president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Goldie worked to address discrimination and promote diversity and inclusion in the nursing profession and was known for her contributions to improving patient care. She was part of the surgical team that treated Martin Luther King Jr. after an attempted assassination in 1958. Her legacy continues to inspire nurses and healthcare professionals.
Mary Seacole
(1805-1881)
Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born British nurse and entrepreneur who made significant contributions to the field of nursing during the Crimean War. She established the 'British Hotel", which provided medical care and comfort for sick and wounded soldiers regardless of their race.
Mary was praised by many high-ranking officials for her excellent medical knowledge and skills, which proved invaluable throughout the war.
Her autobiography, "The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands", recounts her experiences as a nurse, and is a great resource for any curious nurses.
Mary Eliza Mahoney
(1845-1926)
Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American person to graduate from an American school of nursing. In her time as a nurse, she worked with Martha Minerva Franklin and Adah B. Thoms to improve access to nursing practices and raise standards of living for African American nurses.
Mary was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 1976, which is just one of many achievements showing her significant contributions to nursing.
Adah Belle Thoms
(1870-1943)
Adah Belle Thoms cofounded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) and served as President from 1916-1923. She was also acting director at the Lincoln School of Nurses in New York and fought for African Americans to serve as American Red Cross nurses in World War 1.
Adah was one of the first nurses inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame when it was first established in 1976.
Florence Nightingale
(1820-1910)
Famously known as 'The Lady with the Lamp', Florence Nightingale is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. It is on her birthday that we celebrate International Nurses Day, and the contributions that she made to the field of nursing have truly shaped how we practice today.
Florence significantly reduced the death rates in the Crimean War by improving hygiene and living standards, through sterilisation and sanitisation. Many of her methods are still used today.