This foundational principle emphasizes patient safety as the absolute priority in healthcare. It critiques the reality of many 19th-century hospitals, advocating for clean, effective care that actively prevents additional suffering or infection.
Quote by Florence Nightingale: “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.”
The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.
Insight
Historical Context
Following her experiences in the Crimean War, Nightingale revolutionized hospital design and sanitation, challenging prevailing medical practices that often caused more harm than good due to lack of hygiene.
Verify source / Learn moreAbout the Author
English social reformer and statistician who founded modern nursing practice during the Crimean War. Her innovations in sanitation and hospital administration dramatically reduced death rates, and her use of statistical graphics to present medical data was pioneering.
View all quotes by Florence Nightingale