Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole on nursing and health care.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to correct inaccurate information about both Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale, material that promotes Seacole as a pioneer nurse and heroine, while either ignoring Nightingale or trivializing her contribution.


BACKGROUND
Nursing journals have been prominent in promoting inaccurate accounts of the contribution of Seacole to nursing. Some have intermittently published positive material about Nightingale, but none has published redress.


METHODS
Discussion paper.


METHODS
Primary sources from 1855-2012 were found, which contradict some key claims made about Seacole. Further sources - not included here - are identified, with a website reference.


CONCLUSIONS
It is argued that Nightingale remains relevant as a model for nurses, with the many crises in patient care and continuing challenges of hospital safety.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater accuracy and honesty are required in reporting about nursing heroes. Without these, great ideas and examples can be lost to nursing and health care.
University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Lynn
L
McDonald
D001741:Black or African American / Q000266:history*; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D047849:Crimean War; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000266:history*; D006113:United Kingdom
Crimean War; Florence Nightingale; Mary Seacole; nursing; pioneers of health care