A London museum dedicated to the pioneer of modern nursing Florence Nightingale reopened on Thursday to mark International Nurses Day, which falls on May 12.
International Nurses Day has been celebrated around the world on Nightingale's birthday each year to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.
LONDON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A London museum dedicated to the pioneer of modern nursing Florence Nightingale reopened on Thursday to mark the International Nurses Day, which falls on the same day.
"We chose to reopen the museum Thursday to mark Florence Nightingale's birthday and the International Nurses Day, when nurses and the general public celebrate the global legacy she inspired with professional nursing," said David Green, director of the Florence Nightingale Museum.
Photo taken on May 11, 2022 shows a bust of Florence Nightingale at Florence Nightingale Museum in London, Britain.(Xinhua/Han Yan)
Photo taken on May 11, 2022 shows Laura Sharpe, an actress in role of Florence Nightingale at Florence Nightingale Museum in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
First opened in 1989 and based in St Thomas' Hospital in London, the museum was forced to close in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"After the experience of the past two years, the value of nurses has never been clearer," Green said, adding the reopening can better help the public understand the great efforts made by all nurses in combating the pandemic and the history of modern nursing.
The museum collection is made up of almost 3,000 artifacts relating to the life, work and legacy of Nightingale.
One of the key exhibits is a lantern Nightingale carried at night to care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War in the 1850s, an experience that earned her the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp."
Photo taken on May 11, 2022 shows the lamp Florence Nightingale carried at night to care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War in the 1850s, at Florence Nightingale Museum in London, Britain.(Xinhua/Han Yan)
The image captured the public's imagination and Nightingale soon became a household name.
The reopening also brings the "Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places" exhibition, presenting 200 items, stories and places that reveal the character of a true pioneer of nursing and hospital standards.
Photo taken on May 11, 2022 show the "Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places" exhibition at Florence Nightingale Museum in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
A special section is devoted to outstanding nurses to inspire how to become a Nightingale Nurse.
Fiona Hibberts, a consultant nurse with St Thomas' Hospital, was invited to the museum to tell her nursing story.
"It's great the museum begins to open up so that more people can come and learn about the history of Nurses Day and the importance of Florence Nightingale in today's nursing profession," she said.
Nightingale, who was born on May 12, 1820 and died on Aug. 13, 1910, is considered the founder of modern nursing and a pioneer in statistics.
Two years after her death, the International Committee of the Red Cross established the Florence Nightingale Medal, an international award that is given to excellent nurses.
International Nurses Day is an international day that has been celebrated around the world on Nightingale's birthday each year to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. ■
