From Florence Nightingale to the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Legacy We Want

Abstract

Objective: to reflect on the future of the nursing profession based on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the goals of the Nursing Now campaign and the celebration of Florence Nightingale's bicentennial. Method: reflexive analysis presented in two central topics: the first deals with Florence Nightingale-precursor of entrepreneurship in nursing; the second deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequent turnaround of the Nursing Now campaign and the strengthening of nursing as a valuable profession. Results: in the first topic, we point out the fundamental aspects of the trajectory of Florence Nightingale as the creator of modern nursing worldwide through advances, innovations, scientificity and correlation of its principles with the current reality. In the second topic, we historically reflect on the activities of Nursing in the great wars and epidemics up to the present, correlating the practices and the way nursing is constituted as a profession. We point out the goals of the Nursing Now campaign and its significance post-pandemic, as well as the expansion of nursing visibility and the constitution of a new professional identity. Conclusion: finally, we reflect on the importance of nurses pursuing their efforts to grant visibility to their expertise in all fields of work and knowledge, strengthening the identity and the professional image we want to anchor in society and maintain for the future.

mulher enfermeira no contexto pandêmico do Coronavírus

“…Tal processo de mudança na condição feminina permitirá e favorecerá transformações da condição das enfermeiras, a partir do momento em que as mesmas enfrentam as situações de submissão e desigualdade (1) . A história deverá ser reescrita retirando do imaginário o "anjo de branco", ou mesmo o super-herói, mas sim profissionais competentes, comprometidos com a prática, com o ensino e com a pesquisa e portanto, devendo ser valorizada e reconhecida nas adequadas condições de trabalho e salários dignos (28) .…”

Ethics, COVID-19 and nursing vulnerability: analysis of photographs released by the media

“…This construction of professional profile, which began at the end of the 19 th century and was consolidated throughout the 20 th century, emerged in a historical context of conflicts and made the insertion of women, such as Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and Anna Nery, opportune (26)(27) . These figures and their work provided visibility to female representation, imprinting a new way of caring and the significant role for nursing as a profession.…”

Ética, COVID-19 e vulnerabilidade da enfermagem: análise de fotografias divulgadas pela mídia

“…Essa construção do perfil profissional, que se iniciou no final do século XIX e se consolidou no transcurso do século XX, surgiu em um contexto histórico de conflitos e tornou oportuna a inserção de mulheres, como Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole e Anna Nery (26)(27) . Tais figuras e seus trabalhos proporcionaram visibilidade à representação feminina, imprimindo uma nova forma de cuidar e o significativo papel para a enfermagem como profissão.…”