Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of the modern nursing created high standards for the profession. Today, her picture adorns walls in hospitals in her honor.
Born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, she was named after the city of her birth. According to Florence Nightingale, nursing as a profession 'is the act of utilizing the environment of the patients to assist in recovery”. Her book, Notes on Nursing, outlines the principles of nursing.

What to Study?
Nursing is based on self care models that incorporate content from a variety of areas such as Nursing Acts, Medical- Surgical nursing, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Medical and Surgical Nursing, Midwifery, Gynecology, Community Health Nursing amongst others.

Personality
Nursing as a profession requires physical assessment, sterile techniques, medical administration, intravenous administration and good personal relations. Apart from these qualities, one should also possess skills like assessing, analyzing, planning, intervening and evaluation along with some interpersonal skills like communicating, counseling, teaching and supervising. A nurse should be well groomed.

History of Nursing
In olden days, the sick were usually cured in worship houses by certain women who weren't actually trained but their experiences taught them skills to use herbs and drugs. In the 17th century, women were encouraged to undertake training for their work. Florence Nightingale received training which later on helped her establish a school to train nurses. By the 20th century, there was shortage of nurses in hospitals and that led to greater job opportunities for women.

Significance of Lamp Lighting
Nursing is the only profession that follows lamp lighting ceremony. Light as a symbol of knowledge removes ignorance and is a lasting wealth by which lots could be achieved. A traditional oil lamp also has a spiritual significance. The oil symbolizes negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual significance, negative tendencies and ego perish.

What do nurses do?
Nurses asses the needs of the patients, diagnonise their problems to some extent and take care of them. They are expected to have certain skills and knowledge of health promotion and illness management. Nurses play a vital role in prevention of illness.

In addition to the duties in hospitals, there are many other fields that are open to a professional nurse such as working with the Red Cross, Military Service, Public Health, Health Insurance Companies and Teaching.

Job Opportunities
There are a wide variety of job opportunities for nurses in India or even in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Nurses are employed in different departments such as emergency, pediatrics. A nurse can be a health care worker for a short or long term basis at schools, clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home care clinics, Maternity centers and health departments.