An Old Letter with Relevant Information
By Marilyn Harris , MSN , RN , NEA-BC , FAAN In Retrospect from Journal of Christian Nursing ( JCN ), July / Sept 2016 , Vol 33 ( 3 ), 186
On Christmas Eve in 1877 , Florence Nightingale wrote a letter in London , England , to “ My very dear ‘ Matron ’ Miss Fisher .” Miss Fisher was Alice Fisher , a former student of Florence Nightingale . In 1884 , the Board of the Poor in Philadelphia , PA was seeking a suitable person to start a Training School for Nurses in the former Philadelphia Almshouse and Hospital , known as Old Blockley . Miss Nightingale was consulted for advice and recommended Alice Fisher . Miss Fisher arrived in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1884 . In less than six months , January 1885 , Old Blockley opened a training school for about 12 students , and the Blockley Nurse was born ( Early , 2013 ).
Two framed , handwritten copies of Florence Nightingale ’ s letter hang on the walls at LaSalle University School of Nursing in Philadelphia ; one in the lobby and another in a hallway . The letter and information on Alice Fisher was printed in The American Nurse ( TAN ) on January 31 , 1976 . This framed article hangs in the office of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association ( PSNA ) in Harrisburg , PA . I have had the opportunity to read Nightingale ’ s letter several times .
From my perspective , this letter was written by Nightingale to encourage her friend in her new role and also to recognize the importance of spirituality in nursing . The following are excerpts from the letter that convey Nightingale ’ s spirituality ( TAN , 1976 , p . 2 ).
Winter 2016 Pennsylvania Nurse 12