School for Nurses
Florence Nightingale's greatest achievement was to raise nursing to the level of a respectable profession for women. In 1860 the public subscriptions from the Nightingale Fund was used to establish the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St Thomas' Hospital.
The probationer nurses received a year's training that included some lectures but was mainly practical ward work under the supervision of the ward sister. From 1872 Florence devoted closer attention to the School. She scrutinised the probationers' ward diaries and reports, and annually wrote an open letter to the nurses and probationers giving advice and encouragement. Once trained the nurses were sent to work in other hospitals in Britain and abroad, and to established nursing training schools based on the Nightingale model.
In 1860 her best known work, was published. Notes on Nursing laid down the principles of nursing: hygiene and careful observation of the patient's needs. Notes on Nursing has been translated into eleven languages and is still in print today. Florence was very forward looking in her views and the principles she laid down are still referred to today.
Like many other public health reformers Florence believed that infection arose spontaneously in dirty and poorly ventilated places. This mistaken belief nevertheless led to improvements in hygiene and healthier living and working environments. Florence's other writings on hospital planning and organisation were also influential. She was the principal advocate of the 'pavilion' plan for hospitals in Britain. | 
