Lady with the lamp

     The conception of this nurse watch began on May 12th, 2008. It coincided with the birthday of the world’s most famous nurse --- Florence Nightingale. This date also happened to be a traumatic memory for the Chinese people as the Sichuan earthquake destroyed tens of thousands of lives and made millions homeless in just seconds.  Numerous relief workers from home and abroad, rushed to the scene, devoted themselves bodies and souls to the rescue work. It was regarded as the return of the “Nightingales”.
 It is obliged to share the story of Nightingale.

     Florence Nightingale, the British nurse and hospital reformer. She was born to wealthy British parents travelling in Italy. Named after the city which she was born. Florence grew up to be an attractive young woman in Derbyshire, England.

Admired in the family’s social circle, she was educated to be a socialite and was expected to make a good marriage. However Florence refused to marry. She had other concerns. When she attempted to work as a nurse, her horrified family repeatedly opposed her. Nursing which before her time was considered low-grade, unskilled labour. In 1854 she recruited and equipped a group of nurses and went off to the British barrack hospital in Turkey, tending the wound soldiers from Crimean war. She worked tirelessly to improve the conditions in the hospital. The soldiers referred her as  “lady of the lamp” for her late hours that she worked tending the sick and the wound. She revolutionized British military medical care, lowering the mortality rate through raising standards for sanitation and nutrition. She had won recognition “Angel of Crimea” by the soldiers from the Crimean war.

       While visiting the front lines, she became ill, suffering from Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome. She spent rest of her life confined to her home, often bed ridden. However, Nightingale continued to work for the nursing care and training. She established a school that became world model for modern nursing training. She was asked for advice by the United States on caring for the wound of the Civil War. Through her life time effort, nursing became a highly trained and respected profession.

This fob watch is an ideal timepiece for the medical profession who finds a wrist watch is not handy to their job. It is also a gift for recognition of the medical profession in your life. They are appreciated for being  medical care workers.

      
 Portrait of Florence Nightingale         Formerly Nightingale's family mansion, 
                                          the present Hampshire Collegiate school
                                                                               

The Crimean war.

Nightingale worked late hours every night with a lamp tending the sick and wound in the barrack hospital.

Tending the wound soldiers from the Crimean war.

Nightingale in the British military hospital in Scutari, Turkey.

Nightingale’s grave at St. Margaret’s  church , East Wellow, Hampshire, England.

Tombstone of Nightingale

Nightingale’s statute at London  Hospital.

Nightingale’s statute at the Crimean War Memorial, London.

The F.N museum inside St. Thomas’ hospital, London.

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