The Lamp Still Shines: The Nightingale Legacy Lives On

"A Lady with a lamp shall stand. In the great history of the land, A noble type of good, Heroic Womanhood.” The 1857 poem “Santa Filomena” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

In 1855, Florence Nightingale, the visionary nurse, tirelessly walked down the dimly lit aisle of lined beds occupied with sick and wounded soldiers who had fought during the Crimean War. As she paced down the aisles, she held a lamp with a small flickering flame that guided her way and served as a beacon of comfort and care for those she cared for. It was this act that solidified her legacy as “the Lady with the Lamp.”

Nightingale’s contributions to the nursing profession transcended battlefield care. She championed practices that are witnessed in the modern clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role, and her dedication to delivering evidencebased care earned her the revered title of “mother and founder of modern nursing.”

Even today, over a century later, Nightingale's influence remains. The Nightingale Pledge, the nursing profession’s version of the Hippocratic Oath, is still used in several schools as a way of passage for nursing graduates. Additionally, the iconic painting illustrating her holding her famed lamp is shared countless times during National Nurses Week and is a physical reminder and testament to her enduring legacy.

The nursing profession has flourished due to Nightingale’s contributions. Today, there are more than 100 nursing specialties in the industry, according to Nursing Journal. While they may differ in concentration, each of these specialties centralizes patient-centered care. With approximately 4.7 million registered nurses in the United States alone, nursing remains the largest healthcare profession, as reported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Each year, National Nurses Week is celebrated and recognizes nurses across all specialties for their dedication and commitment to serving others. Just as Nightingale carried the lamp as she watched over the wounded soldiers, so too do nurses today carry the torch of hope and care, a guiding light for patients in their times of need.

Nurses are often referred to as the “heart of healthcare” or “the backbone of healthcare.” No matter how the profession is referred to, nurses are indispensable. They become trusted patient advocates and serve as patients’ voices when needed. They monitor patients, administer medications and therapies and provide comfort and emotional support, among other essential duties.

AON nurses are no different in their service and exemplify Nightingale’s principles in the care they provide. With expertise across a wide range of nursing specialties, AON nurses elevate the patient care provided within the clinics. They are instrumental in fulfilling the mission of breaking down barriers and ensuring the highest quality of cancer care remains accessible and convenient through community-based oncology practices.

AON’s nursing teams bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that directly contributes to the exceptional care patients receive throughout their entire healthcare journey. The seven specialized nursing teams at AON play a critical role at every stage:

Care coordination nurses

These nurses specialize in organizing patient care and treatments by incorporating all members of the care team. They help prevent fragmented care and assist in patient transitions from one care area to another.

Informatics nurses

These nurses leverage competencies of nursing, computer and information sciences to maintain and develop medical data and systems to support the practice of nursing and improve patient care outcomes.

Infusion nurses

These nurses safely and accurately mix and administer chemotherapeutic drugs to patients while educating patients on related side effects. They also monitor patients during infusions.

Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners work alongside the attending physician and can see patients for routine visits, such as prior to chemotherapy visits and for any acute care issues that may arise.

Pharmacy nurses

These nurses assist with the mixing of drugs and doublecheck drug doses for accuracy. They also support patients by addressing questions related to their medications.

Research nurses

These nurses provide information about clinical trials, meticulously screen patients for eligibility, obtain informed consent, educate participants on the clinical trial and offer ongoing support throughout the process.

Triage nurses

These nurses receive calls from patients regarding symptoms and side effects. They also act as liaisons between the provider and the patient.

Beyond the diverse range of nursing specialties at AON, nurses share a core set of demanding skills that allow them to excel in the complex environments of oncology and patient care. For example, nurses navigate complex medical situations and advanced therapy plans that require critical thinking and quick decision-making under pressure.

Furthermore, the role requires not only physical stamina but also mental and emotional resilience. This demand can lead to burnout, which is common in the profession. Despite these challenges, nurses are highly adaptable, constantly adjusting their approach to specific situations and tailoring care to individual patient needs.

Recognizing burnout — whether physical, mental or emotional — is crucial. While it does start with raising awareness of burnout and allowing for conversations on the issue, there are several ways nurses and practice staff can resolve it and get back to providing quality patient care. Below are several strategies shared by the American Nurses Association.

• Rest and be sure to get the recommended number of hours of sleep per night.

• Talk to someone about it, like a co-worker or family member. Seek professional help when needed.

• Get some exercise because not only does physical activity help reduce stress, but it also improves strength and cardiovascular health.

• Eat healthy nutritious foods.

• Take a break and find time to disconnect

Supporting nurses in their high-demand roles is important to ensure that patient care does not waver. National Nurses Week celebrates nurses who have dedicated themselves to tirelessly serving others in need. But their value extends far beyond a single week. We are honored to have exceptional and highly skilled nurses in our clinics. Without their commitment to patient care, our clinics would not be as efficient and successful.

– Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD, AON's Chief Medical Officer

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. By acknowledging their challenges, supporting their wellbeing and celebrating their achievements beyond the annual National Nurses Week, AON ensures that nurses continue to shine as beacons of hope and healing for patients and families. 