Nursing & Midwifery

Baroness Sophie Mannerheim, 1863-1928

Display No. 124

Following her divorce, Mannerheim trained to become a nurse at the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1902, After completing her training she return to Finland, becoming Head Nurse of The Helsinki Surgical Hospital (1904-1928). She pioneered modern nursing in Finland and was considered the ‘Florence Nightingale of Finland’. She later rose to become President of the Finnish Nurses’ Association, a role she held for 24 years, and eventually President of the International Council of Nurses in 1925

Oil painting on canvas. Portrait of Baroness Sophie Mannerheim. Florence Nightingale Museum Collection

Exhibits from ‘Nursing & Midwifery’.

Discover the 200 Exhibits

Nightingale is respected worldwide for her pioneering role in developing the nursing profession, her statistical work, and her evidence-based approach to healthcare. In honour of her bicentenary the World Health Organisation have named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

In our special exhibition, you will find out about objects, people and places which tell interesting stories about Florence’s life and legacy. You’ll discover artefacts from her life, people she both inspired and challenged, and places she helped to shape. There’s many more insights too!

Please click on the different sections of her famous coxcomb diagram to explore various aspects of her life and legacy. We hope you enjoy exploring!