Nursing & Midwifery

The Nightingale Pledge, 1893

Display No. 33

The Nightingale Pledge is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath for doctors whereby nurses pledge to uphold certain ethics and principles within the nursing profession.

First created in 1893, the Nightingale Pledge is most often taken by North American nurses and not generally found outside of the USA. Florence did not write the Nightingale Pledge but it was named in her honour.

Pledge of Florence Nightingale. Credit: Wellcome Collection. CC BY 4.0

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!