History of the Foundation
Florence Nightingale is undoubtedly the world’s most famous nurse and her influence and legacy continues to have an effect throughout the world today.
When Florence died in 1910 at 90, the international nursing community of the time wished to pay tribute to the life and work of this great nurse. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress, in Cologne in 1912, announced the idea of Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) to be established as a living memorial to Florence. It was not until the 1929 ICN Grand Council meeting in Montreal that the memorial proposal was activated.
…to prepare themselves most fitly to follow in her footsteps
Mrs Bedford Fenwick on the formation of the Foundation
The Foundation advances the study of nursing and midwifery practice and promotes excellence in practice to benefit patients. It provides scholarships that enable nurses and midwives to extend their knowledge and skills to meet the changing needs of patients’ care for today and the future. Further, the Foundation develops new knowledge and creates the evidence base for nursing and midwifery practice through the Florence Nightingale Clinical Professoriate.
2020 will witness the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. This will be celebrated on a wide scale both in the UK and globally with many events taking place across the world. This will help to increase the profile of nursing and midwifery and promote the recognition the professions deserve.
Timeline:
Florence Nightingale dies aged 90. Undoubtedly, the world’s most famous nurse, her legacy and influence continues to have an effect throughout the world today.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) proposes the formation of the Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee.
World War I
The Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee is activated by the ICN Grand Council in Montreal.
The Committee reports back to the ICN with the proposal that the memorial should take the form of a foundation for the post-graduate education of nurses and that national Florence Nightingale committees should be set up int he countries of ICN member associations.
The British National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee (NFNMC) is set up making use of courses run by the newly formed Florence Nightingale International Foundation (FNIF), a collaboration between the ICN and the British Red Cross Society
World War II
The National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is formally constituted
The FNIF, whilst retaining its own Trust Deed and Endowment Fund, becomes the Florence Nightingale Education Division of the ICN
HRH Princess Alexandra becomes patron of the NFNMC
The annual Florence Nightingale Memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey for the first time.
Each year The Lamp is carried by a nominated scholar of the Foundation and is kept in the Florence Nightingale Chapel at Westminster Abbey.
The National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee is renamed The Florence Nightingale Foundation and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee
A world-wide commemoration of the bicentenary of Florence’s birth to help increase the profile of nursing and midwifery and promote the recognition the profession deserves.