Other Titles
Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
This presentation aims to examine and understand the influence that Hippocrates’ fundamental theories of medicine had on Florence Nightingale’s development of modern nursing care. Hippocrates has gained the nickname “the father of modern medicine” and Nightingale has claimed the title “the mother of modern nursing”. This presentation will argue that without Hipporcates’ revolutionary ideas in medicine the framework of modern nursing would have taken much longer to develop, if it was ever developed into what we know today. Nightingale took Hippocrates’ revolutionary ideas regarding hygiene, the environment, and holistic patient care; and adapted them into the systematic approach to modern nursing that is present today. Through a thorough analysis of Hippocrates’ and Nightingale’s own writings and scholarly historical and medical texts, this presentation explores what exactly the connections between these two pioneers ideas were and just how Nightingale was able to build the framework of modern nursing from Hippocrates’ theories of observation, patient-centered care, and hygiene. Research findings heavily suggest that Nightingale’s emphasis on nursing education, advocacy for patients and public health, and sanitation stemmed directly from traditions popularized by Hippocrates’ medical teachings. It is Nightingale's transformation of hospital management and patient care that provided the very foundation for modern nursing to develop into a distinct and revered profession. This presentation highlights both Hippocrates and Nightingale’s role in advancing nursing and medical knowledge, as well as emphasizing exactly how bringing ancient wisdom and modern healthcare practices together transformed medicine and nursing into respected professions.
Notes
References: Drabkin, I. E. (1955). Remarks on Ancient Psychopathology. Isis, 46(3), 223–234. http://www.jstor.org/stable/226341
Hays R. (2024). The relevance of medical history to current practice. Australian journal of general practice, 53(3), 157–160. https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-06-23-6859
Hippocrates, . Hippocratic Corpus: [Excerpts]. Academic Medicine 88(1):p 80, January 2013. | DOI: 10.1097/01.ACM.0000424220.16454.f5
Valdes, J. A., Kradel, B., & Hinson, S. (2018). Hippocrates to Nightingale: Converging or diverging concepts in patient management and decision making. AANA journal, 86(6), 89–91. http://www.onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?i=546283&article_id=4526960&view=articleBrowser
Wildman, S., & Hewison, A. (2009). Rediscovering a history of nursing management: from Nightingale to the modern matron. International journal of nursing studies, 46(12), 1650–1661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.06.008
The Voice of Florence Nightingale on Advocacy | OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. (2012). Ojin.nursingworld.org. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-17-2012/number-1-january-2012/florence-nightingale-on-advocacy/
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Hippocrates' Fundamental Theories of Medicine, Florence Nightingale's Modern Nursing Care, Patient-Centered Care
Recommended Citation
Wiedle, Callie, "Hippocrates and Nightingale: Ancient Medicine and Modern Nursing" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 89.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/89
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Hippocrates and Nightingale: Ancient Medicine and Modern Nursing
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
This presentation aims to examine and understand the influence that Hippocrates’ fundamental theories of medicine had on Florence Nightingale’s development of modern nursing care. Hippocrates has gained the nickname “the father of modern medicine” and Nightingale has claimed the title “the mother of modern nursing”. This presentation will argue that without Hipporcates’ revolutionary ideas in medicine the framework of modern nursing would have taken much longer to develop, if it was ever developed into what we know today. Nightingale took Hippocrates’ revolutionary ideas regarding hygiene, the environment, and holistic patient care; and adapted them into the systematic approach to modern nursing that is present today. Through a thorough analysis of Hippocrates’ and Nightingale’s own writings and scholarly historical and medical texts, this presentation explores what exactly the connections between these two pioneers ideas were and just how Nightingale was able to build the framework of modern nursing from Hippocrates’ theories of observation, patient-centered care, and hygiene. Research findings heavily suggest that Nightingale’s emphasis on nursing education, advocacy for patients and public health, and sanitation stemmed directly from traditions popularized by Hippocrates’ medical teachings. It is Nightingale's transformation of hospital management and patient care that provided the very foundation for modern nursing to develop into a distinct and revered profession. This presentation highlights both Hippocrates and Nightingale’s role in advancing nursing and medical knowledge, as well as emphasizing exactly how bringing ancient wisdom and modern healthcare practices together transformed medicine and nursing into respected professions.
Description
How did Florence Nightingale take Hippocrates revolutionary medical ideas and transform them into what we know today as the framework for modern nursing? This presentation delves into the similarities between the ancient medical works of Hippocrates and the more modern nursing works of Florence Nightingale, taking a closer look at ethics and patient-centered care, as well as hygiene and the environment.