The Continuing False Accusations against Florence Nightingale, Founder of Professional Nursing

Here three false accusations against Florence Nightingale, founder of professional nursing, are refuted. First, further material, from a previous Trends article, is adduced on the portrayal of Mary Seacole as a co-founder of nursing. Secondly, recent accusations of Nightingale discriminating against men in nursing, even because of their so-called “hard and horny hands” are shown to be based on faulty attributions.

Thirdly, charges of racism are not only refuted, but material cited that show Nightingale’s positive work on BME minorities and Indigenous persons. Finally, editors who accept such shoddy articles are challenged to raise their standards. Authors are called on to publish corrections.