The nursing practice environment

摘要

Amongst Florence Nightingale's many achievements was her recognition of the impact of external factors associated with patients' surroundings on their health and recovery from illness. She highlighted the role of the nurse in managing that environment to best effect. Nursing, she stated, 'is an act utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery (Nightingale, 1860/1969). Nightingale was especially concerned with the impact of the physical environment on patients' recovery, in particular the contribution of fresh air, clean water, effective drainage, cleanliness, natural light, warmth and quiet on patients and argued that a deficiency of any of these could diminish health and impede recovery.