Billy Mishak
N491
Concepts and Theories in Nursing
Module 2
9/30/2014

Nightingale’s Visit
Florence Nightingale’s core belief was in hygiene and to her the central element of healthcare (Parker & Smith, 2010, p45). Florence being a staunch proponent of the healing properties environmental cleanliness provided and her belief in nursing as her calling from God, “ The first thought that I can remember, and the last, was nursing work..” (Parker & Smith, 2010, 36), so few things inhibited her from achieving order and cleanliness. Nightingale’s provisions to those she cared for was cleanliness, order, encouragement to eat, feeding, clean bed linen, clean bodies, and clean wards (Parker & Smith, 2010, p40). Nightingale’s absolute adherence to these beliefs at times bordered on obstinacy and her efforts where credited with better patient outcomes.
Community Health is a difficult field in any situation most notably because being in another persons home takes that measure of environmental control away that is afforded by the hospital setting. The community nurse in this case is confronted with a home environment that is not fit for human living, her quick visual assessment skills pointed out a two year old on the floor playing with a cat, a full liter box in the corner next to the changing table. The changing table had two half-empty formula bottles, an empty box of wipes, and three soiled diapers. The two year old goes from playing with the cat on the floor to holding the three week old baby. Beds are unmade, a hot stuffy living environment, no light, a table in the middle of the room with plates of uneaten food and unfinished cans of soda on it, and also very important but not explicitly stated is that this women is overwhelmed in her current situation.
Nightingale’s Way
The proper management of the patient’s environment was a central mandate of the