The Impact of Florence Nightingale's Quote on Nursing Skills

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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NURSING
Florence Nightingale, popularly known as “Lady with the Lamp” is regarded as the
philosopher of the modern nursing and is also regarded as the social reformer. She has aptly
stated that "let whoever in change keep this simple question in head (not how can I always do
this right myself ,but) how can I provide for this right thing to be always done” (Gorrell,
2013). This statement had a profound impact on my nursing profession. The following
reflective essay will highlight how this quote of Florence Nightingale will guide my nursing
skills.
I think this quote vouches for team work so that a nursing team can work in unison in
order to improve the overall outcome of the patient. During my clinical practice as a nursing
professional, my sole focus will not be directed towards my own practice, I will also make
sure that my entire nursing team works uniformly for the sole betterment for the patient.
Florence Nightingale was much ahead of time, this quotation of her reflected her thought
projection towards the multidisciplinary team in the healthcare profession.
Not how can I always do this right myself.................> As per my understanding of
the leadership styles, doing always right thing by myself will lead to a scenario where the
leaders will give the direction and the fellow subordinates or the team mates, blindly
following the directions. This might lead to the generation of negative environments where
the flow of the information and the direction will be in one direction that is down from the
leaders to the followers. If I always do the right by myself and always take decision about by
practice decision then the other teammates might feel that I am acting as a dictator. It will
lead to the generation of numerous problems like conflict of interest. Moreover, imposing my
opinions and decisions of what is right or what is wrong might generate frustration among my
teammates, leading to decrease in the overall quality of care and the practice execution. I also
think that always thinking about right for own approach only will lead to a generation of
approach of one-man team. However, the healthcare profession mainly resides on the overall

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NURSING
functioning of the multidisciplinary team. For example, in the pos-operative care, there is a
post-operative care nurse, mental health nurses, a registered nurse, doctors, dietician and
other allied healthcare professionals (Freund et al., 2015). If I am working as a post-operative
care nurse, it will be my duty to ensure that mental healthcare nurse is also procuring a
person-centered care plan for the faster recovery of the patient. So whether my fellow
colleagues or my team-mates are doing right is also my concern as it will help to improve the
faster recovery of the patient from the post-operative care. During framing of the care plan
for the patient’s I am also required to take effective advice from the concerned doctor,
nutritionist and other allied healthcare professionals thus uplifting the a team-based efforts of
doing right for the patient.
The healthcare in the Canada is constantly changing and gradually it is becoming
more complex (Dufresne, Jeram and Pelletier, 2014). Thus I think the future of the nursing
profession will more impart on the hands of the nursing leaders in the healthcare who will
guided and assist other nursing professionals towards the procuring the correct healthcare
plan each time. Due to the continually metamorphic nature of the healthcare system of
Canada, I think it is imperative for the nursing professionals to employ the transformational
leadership. This leadership style encourages change as highlighted by the Florence
Nightingale. The transformational leadership style will enable recognition of the areas of the
areas in which the change is needed and thereby inspiring the followers and generating a
sense of commitment for doing good for the patient (Hutchinson & Jackson, 2013).
I will provide” for this right thing to be always done”.................> by encouraging
positive self-esteem and motivation among my colleagues. This will help to execute high
level of performance. Seeking of execution of the right thing every time by each of the
colleagues will help in the generation of the critical thinking skills of the nursing
professionals. The encouragement towards the development of the clinical thinking skills will