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The Five Most Influential Nurses in History

Published on Tuesday 28th of August, 2007

The role of nurse is revered in society as being a position for those with skill, knowledge and compassion. This reputation is due in no small part to the famous men and women that have proven themselves to be selfless, dedicated nurses. The legacy of many nurses has lived on for decades and continues to inspire people to become professional caregivers or, at the very least, more compassionate. Listed below are the five most famous nurses in history.

  1. Florence Nightingale - The word "nurse" is synonymous with Florence Nightingale, the most famous nurse of all time. A British nurse who worked during the 19th century, Nightingale was a selfless nurse who braved harsh conditions in battle during the Crimean War. Also a statistician, Nightingale's dedication to reducing the deaths of British Army soldiers produced some groundbreaking findings on the living conditions of patients. Nightingale advocated cleanliness for all people in the hopes to reduce illness and death.

  2. Clara Barton - Clara Barton's name is almost as closely related to nursing as Florence Nightingale's. Barton is most famous for organizing the American Red Cross. A lifelong philanthropist in the 1800's, Barton was shocked at the number of lives lost in the Battle of Bull Run due to lack of medical supplies. After that, she traveled with medical teams during the war and assisted as a nurse. Amazingly, she had no formal medical training before her efforts in the war.

  3. Margaret Sanger - Margaret Sanger is one of the most famous nurses and women's liberation activists in the world. She advocated women's use of birth control, something that was not common in the early 20th century when she was working as a nurse. Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood. She is largely credited as being responsible for making birth control readily available for women worldwide.

  4. Dorothea Lynde Dix - Also known as "Dragon Dix", Dorothea Dix was one of the most famous nurses in the Civil War. She did, in fact, serve as Superintendent of Nurses during that era and was known for her patient advocacy. Dix fought for the fair treatment of both patients and prisoners, bringing about great changes in the policies of mental hospitals. Her unfortunate nickname, however, stemmed from the strict rules she enforced with her staff nurses.

  5. Walt Whitman - Although not necessarily famous for his nursing, Walt Whitman is perhaps one of the most famous nurse in history. At the very least, Whitman is the most famous male nurse. This celebrated poet, author of Leaves of Grass, spent the better part of the Civil War as a volunteer nurse after his brother was wounded.

There are many great historical figures who have served as nurses. The career is considered a noble one, which the above people have only further highlighted. What makes a nurse famous is usually not his/her skill in medicine but a dedication to the rights and health of all human beings. This is a philosophy that everyone can aspire to, not just professional nurses.

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