Nursing During Dark

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Nursing During the Dark Ages

Nursing has always existed. Most people believe that Nursing started with Florence Nightingale even though she did a lot, nursing began with motherhood. Nursing practices were always combined with religious practice. During the fourth century Christian Era nursing was still based upon comfort and love rather then medical treatments and hospitals. During this era Deaconesses, Hospitallers, and the Sisters of Mercy were considered the nurses. Nursing during the Dark ages was very different then it is now.

The word “nursing” comes from the Latin word “nutrire” which mean “to nourish.” The word for “nurse” comes from the word “nutrix” which means “nursing mother.” Around the 16th century, a new meaning of the word nurse was added to the existing meaning which was “one who takes care of small children.” and “one who waits on, or takes care of the sick, usually a woman.” Now even though Nursing began with motherhood, Florence Nightingale was a woman who disliked the lack of opportunity for females. She became very interested in looking after those who were ill. She visited many hospitals around the country to look for possible occupations for women there. Since nursing was seen as a career that needed neither study nor intelligence it was very easy to become a nurse.

Florence Nightingale is perhaps the most well known figure in the history of nursing. She overcame a lot to become a nurse and to care for soldiers during the Crimean War. Her dedication to her profession was responsible for having less deaths among the soldiers. Even with these great accomplishments she had not achieved her greatest desire, which was to open a training school for nurses. In 1860, Florence's dream was finally realized when the Nightingale Training School for Nurses opened. This was the first fully organized training program for nurses. Graduates of the
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