Application of Nightingale's Environmental Theory in Nursing Care

This nursing assignment explores Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory, a foundational concept in nursing that emphasizes the impact of the environment on patient health and recovery. The essay details the theory's five essential components: fresh air, pure water, efficient drainage, cleanliness, and sufficient light. It highlights how these factors influence patient outcomes, particularly in modern healthcare settings. The paper discusses the practical application of the theory, including observations in a retirement home, where the principles of fresh air and hygiene were sometimes compromised. The assignment underscores the importance of nurses actively considering and manipulating environmental factors to improve patient well-being and the effectiveness of healthcare processes. References to supporting literature are included.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1NURSING ASSIGNMENT
The environmental theory developed by Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) is
considered to be the first nursing theory that focuses on the every aspect and feature of
nursing care, the patient’s surrounding and patient outcomes (Sher & Akhtar, 2018). As per
the theory, it is the environment in which the patient sustains determines the patient
improvement and outcome of the care process (Kamau et al., 2015). The five essential
components of environment such as availability of fresh water and air, sanitation and
hygiene, light, accurate drainage system are the aspects that helps the patients to overcome
their health complications and achieve healthcare (Medeiros, Enders & Lira, 2015). The
theory therefore seeks the nursing professionals to be aware of the patient’s needs so that they
could manipulate these five aspects to ensure improved patient outcomes.
As the Environmental theory of Florence Nightingale is developed and articulated by
her own experiences and with facts as well as concepts, the application of these theories and
concepts upon new and modern care becomes effective. As mentioned by Pirani (2016), in
modern nursing care, patient’s bedding, their nutrition, their availability of fresh air, and their
proper observation are few factors that helps in improved patient outcomes and hence the
application of the Nightingale’s theory could not be denied (Kamau et al., 2015). Hence,
application of the environmental theory does not require application of nay extra efforts,
however requires the nursing professional to be active and logical so that they can understand
the patents needs and could include them in their care process (Medeiros, Enders & Lira,
2015). Providing the patients with psychologically stable environment, providing them with
fresh air, water and nutritional food are the aspects of the Environmental theory of Florence
Nightingale that helps to improve patient’s condition and achieve improved patient outcomes.
While working in the retirement home with geriatric patients, several aspects of the
Environmental theory of Florence Nightingale was observed to be applied or present in the
care facilities (Kamau et al., 2015). However, few of the important aspects such as

2NURSING ASSIGNMENT
availability of fresh air and maintaining hygiene was compromise. Few of the wards were
stinking and the primary reason behind this was the closed door and windows for proper
cooling of those wards, however, as per the Environmental theory of Florence Nightingale, it
is important to avail the patient with fresh air as it helps in their health improvement (Sher &
Akhtar, 2018). Similarly, it was seen that the fruit basket of the wards were kept uncovered
and in such condition, it is possible that the food that the patients consume were contaminated
(Kamau et al., 2015). Hence, application of Environmental theory of Florence Nightingale
theory would be effective in making the healthcare system and its processes effective for
improved patient outcome.

3NURSING ASSIGNMENT
References
Kamau, S. M., Rotich, R. J., Cheruiyot, B. C., & Ng’eno, L. C. (2015). Applying Florence
Nightingale’s Model of Nursing and the Environment on Multiple Drug Resistant
Tuberculosis Infected Patients in the Kenyan Setting. Open Access Library
Journal, 2(08), 1.
Medeiros, A. B. D. A., Enders, B. C., & Lira, A. L. B. D. C. (2015). The Florence
Nightingale’s environmental theory: A critical analysis. Escola Anna Nery, 19(3),
518-524.
Pirani, S. A. (2016). Application of Nightingale’s theory in nursing practice. Annals of
Nursing and Practice, 3(1), 1040.
Sher, A. N. A., & Akhtar, A. (2018). Clinical Application of Nightingale's Theory. J Clin Res
Bioeth, 9(329), 2.