Florence Nightingale Medal

International award for nursing

Not to be confused with Florence Nightingale David Award.

Award

Florence Nightingale Medal

Obverse of the medal.

Type| International nursing decoration (both military and civilian).
Awarded for| "Exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster" or "exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education".[1]
Description| Gold and silver medallion with the inscription 'Ad memoriam Florence Nightingale 1820–1910' suspended from a red cross encircled by green laurel.
Presented by| Heads of State or Heads of Red Cross National Societies.
Post-nominals| FNM
Status| Currently awarded.
Established| 1912
First award| 1920
Total| 1,579
Total awarded posthumously| 7
Total recipients| 1,586

Ribbon bar of the medal

The Florence Nightingale Medal is an international award presented to those distinguished in nursing and named after British nurse Florence Nightingale. The medal was established in 1912[2] by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), following the Eighth International Conference of Red Cross Societies in London in 1907. It is the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve and is awarded to nurses or nursing aides for "exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster" or "exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education".[1] The Florence Nightingale Medal Commission comprises several members and staff of the ICRC, several of whom are nursing professionals, and the head nurse of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. A representative of the International Council of Nurses also participates in the work of the commission.

## History

[edit]

The medal was initially set up to be awarded to six nurses annually, although the first 42 awards were only made in 1920 due to the disruption of the First World War.[3] The first recipients came from Great Britain (including the then British Empire), Austria, Belgium Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Romania and the United States.[3] Included in the nine nurses from Great Britain and the then British Empire were: Beatrice Isabel Jones, Margaret MacDonald, and Hester Maclean.[3] The six American nurses were: Florence Merriam Johnson, Helen Scott Hay, Linda K. Meirs, Martha M. Russell, Mary E. Gladwin, and Alma E. Foerster,[4] and three German nurses including Elsbeth von Keudell.[5] Ida F. Butler was the fifteenth American recipient of the award in 1937.[6]

The medal was restricted to female nurses until regulation changes in 1991. Under the new regulations, it is open to both women and men and is awarded every two years to a maximum number of fifty recipients worldwide.[1]

## Medal description

[edit]

The vesica piscis-shaped medal is composed of gold and silver-gilt and bears a portrait of Florence Nightingale surrounded by the words "Ad memoriam Florence Nightingale 1820–1910". On the reverse, the name of the recipient and the date of the award is engraved, surrounded by the inscription "Pro vera misericordia et cara humanitate perennis décor universalis" ("true and loving humanitarianism – a lasting general propriety"). The medal is attached to a white and red ribbon by a clasp featuring a red enamel cross encircled by a green laurel crown. Recipients are also presented with a parchment diploma of the award and, from 1927, a miniature version of the medal that could be more easily worn. The medal and a diploma are usually presented by the head of state at a ceremony in their own country, which is required to have "a formal character, in keeping with the founders' wishes".[7]

## Sets of medals

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In 2007, the 41st set of medals were awarded to 35 recipients from 18 countries.[8]

In 2009, the 42nd set of medals were awarded to 28 recipients from 15 countries, including one for the first time to a nurse in Afghanistan,[7] Sister Anisa [9]

In 2011, the 43rd set of medals were awarded to 39 recipients from 19 countries, including for the first time to two Kenyan nurses, as well as to the first recipient from the Central African Republic \- Sylvie Ngouadakpa.[10][11]

In 2013, the 44th set of medals were awarded to 32 recipients from 16 countries, including one posthumously to Khalil Dale MBE, a delegate from the British Red Cross.[12][13]

In 2015, the 45th set of medals were awarded to 36 recipients from 18 countries, including one posthumously to a Sierra Leonian nurse, Mr Morison Musa, who had worked in an Ebola treatment centre.[14]

In 2017, the 46th set of medals were awarded to 39 recipients from 22 countries, including one to Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, the Acting Surgeon General of the United States.[15] Roselyn Nugba-Ballah was the first ever Liberian recipient of the medal, due to her work in the Ebola epidemic.[16]

In 2019, the 48th set of medals were awarded to 29 nurses from 19 countries, including one to Captain Felicity Gapes, a New Zealand Red Cross nurse.[17][18]

In 2021, the 49th set of medals were awarded to 25 nurses from 18 countries, including two posthumously to: Bernadette Gleeson, an Australian nurse, and Arasta Bakhishova, an Azerbaijani nurse.[19][20]

In 2023, the 50th set of medals were awarded to 37 nurses from 22 countries, including three posthumously to: Meggist Menil Abetew, and Amidekrose Aregaw Gebiru, both Ethiopian ambulance drivers who were shot dead in the Tigray region; Margita Kosturikova, a Slovakian nurse. In 2023, Wilbroad William Rwenyagira became the first Tanzanian awardee of this medal.[21]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Florence Nightingale Medal". International Committee of the Red Cross. 2003. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
2. ^ "Medals and Badges: Florence Nightingale Medal". British Red Cross. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
3. ^ a b c "The Florence Nightingale Medal" (PDF). British Journal of Nursing: 334. 5 June 1920. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
4. ^ Nelson McDowell Shepard, "The Florence Nightingale Medal" Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine (November 1921): 646–647.
5. ^ Kreuz, Deutsches Rotes (21 May 2019). "1912". DRK e.V. (in German). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
6. ^ "News about Nursing". The American Journal of Nursing. 37 (7): 801–710\. 1937. doi:10.1097/00000446-193707000-00026. ISSN 0002-936X. JSTOR 3413368. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
7. ^ a b "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2009 recipients". International Committee of the Red Cross. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
8. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2007 recipients". International Committee of the Red Cross. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.[permanent dead link]
9. ^ "Afghanistan: following in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale". 11 August 2010.
10. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2011 recipients". International Committee of the Red Cross. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
11. ^ "La RCA vers des soins infirmiers de meilleure qualité". www.radiondekeluka.org (in French). Retrieved 2 September 2020.
12. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal to aid worker Khalil Dale". BBC News. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
13. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2013 recipients". 12 May 2013.
14. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2015 recipients". Retrieved 12 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
15. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: 2017 recipients". Retrieved 15 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
16. ^ Harmon, William Q. (1 December 2017). ""A True Patriot," Nurse Roselyn Ballah, Gets Nightingale Award Presented". Liberian Observer. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
17. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: Honoring exceptional nurses and nursing aides – 2019 recipients". icrc.org. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Council of Nurses. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
18. ^ "Kiwi Red Cross nurse awarded highest international nursing award". TVNZ. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
19. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: Honoring exceptional nurses and nursing aides – 2021 recipients". icrc.org. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Council of Nurses. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
20. ^ Wockner, Cindy (11 February 2022). "If only there were more in this world like Detta Gleeson". The New Daily. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
21. ^ "Florence Nightingale Medal: Honoring exceptional nurses and nursing aides – 2023 recipients". icrc.org. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Council of Nurses. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.