Celebrating Women's History Month

Women's History Month takes place every March, providing a platform to celebrate and honour the contributions that women have made throughout history. This celebration is essential for recognising the struggles and achievements of women, particularly those in industries such as health care. Women have played a vital role in health care, and their contributions and commitment to the industry have had a significant impact on patient care.

A notable woman many would think of first when associating the word ‘nursing’ to women is Florence Nightingale. Nightingale, also known as The Lady with the Lamp, is the founder of ‘modern nursing’ and made significant contributions to health care during the Crimean War. She established infection prevention and control that led to a reduction in mortality rates in wounded soldiers. This included measures such as clean linen, blankets, and bandages, alongside her insistence on healthy food, water and fresh air for the soldiers. The Florence Nightingale Museum in London is a great place to go, and recognises the amazing work done by Florence.

Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-born nurse, is another notable woman for her contributions during the Crimean War. Despite facing racial discrimination, Seacole established her own hospital and provided medical care to soldiers in need.

Nurse Edith Cavell made great contributions during World War 1. She worked as a nurse in Belgium and helped over 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. Cavell was executed by the Germans for treason, although her legacy lives on as a symbol of bravery and selflessness in nursing.

It is not just these notable nurses who have made an impact on health care. Pat Cullen, the Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, has been a tireless advocate for nursing and healthcare workers. She has advocated for fair pay and gender equality, which have highlighted the importance of recognising the value of nursing as a profession and ensuring gender equity in health care.

The recognition of women's contributions in nursing and health care is critical to ensuring gender equity in the industry. Women still face significant challenges in the health care industry, such as gender pay gaps, limited leadership opportunities and barriers to accessing care. By celebrating Women's History Month and recognising the contributions of women in nursing, we can work towards gender equity and encourage the next generation of women to pursue careers in health care.

Nonetheless, there are limitations to Women's History Month. The celebration of women's achievements can create a singular focus on women's history, which may not fully represent or portray the diversity of all women. It is paramount to recognise and appreciate the contributions of all women and to celebrate their accomplishments beyond Women's History Month.

Women's History Month is an opportunity to celebrate working within nursing and showing contributions, commitment, courage, competencies, communications and care. Alongside this, it is a time to celebrate all women in all industries. By recognising the significant contributions of women such as Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, Edith Cavell and Pat Cullen, we can inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in health care. However, we must also work towards a more inclusive celebration of women's achievements.