International Council of Nurses supports Legacy of Light: The Epic Florence Nightingale Story

Geneva, Switzerland; 21 November 2018 – The International Council of Nurses has pledged its support to the initiative of the realisation of an independent film with the title of “Legacy of Light” to raise awareness of Florence Nightingale whose singular commitment, caring and innovations have changed the course of human history, reshaping health care for the last 150 years and enabling billions of people worldwide to live healthier lives.

Two nurse researchers and Nightingale scholars, Dr Barbara Dossey and Dr Deva-Marie Beck, have started this project that will be based on crowd-funding and donations to raise the necessary budget for creating the film and promoting it globally.

Dr Isabelle Skinner, CEO of ICN, supports this idea wholeheartedly emphasising that “you cannot underestimate the impact of Florence Nightingale’s work on today’s nursing, that’s why we would recommend to everyone to support the realisation of this film”.

The “lady with the lamp” is the name given by wounded and dying soldiers in the Crimean War of the 19th century to Florence Nightingale who worked to heal their wounds and ease their pain. Today, she is considered as the mother of modern nursing.

Nightingale’s life and work also encompassed a much wider field of creative initiative and influence — still highly relevant for today. Beyond and including nursing — Nightingale was also inter-disciplinary. She understood that health is determined by many factors and called this "Health Nursing". These "health determinants" included issues she worked to improve — such as clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education, decent employment, housing and healthy environments, and human rights, including the rights of women and children — the same issues now encompassed by the 17 United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

In the lead up to the bicentenary of Nightingale’s birth in 2020, many organisations — including the International Council of Nurses, the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, the Florence Nightingale Foundation, the American Academy of Nursing and the American Nurses Association, among others are supporting the realisation of this film, which will be based on the award-winning book “Florence Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer” written by Dr Barbara Dossey, who has pointed out that “there are more than 20 million nurses and midwives worldwide who carry the light of healing into the 21st century, so there’s no better time than now to tell her story”.

If you wish to participate and contribute to the realisation of this film, please follow this link.

Note for Editors

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

For further information please contact

Gyorgy Madarasz, Press Officer, International Council of Nurses, Tel: +41 22 908 01 16

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