The annual service to commemorate the life and work of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was held at Westminster Abbey, London, England, May 7, 2014, 6:30 pm—7:30 pm. This annual service celebrates nursing and midwifery and all staff working in healthcare services that include active duty military nurses. This is to honor Nightingale’s legacy and her work caring for soldiers during the Crimean War (October 1853—February 1856).
In attendance was Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, Royal Patron of The Florence Nightingale Foundation, who was presented a bouquet of flowers by Gideon Rowland, aged 10, son of the Lamp carrier Gloria Rowland.
Over 2000 nurses, midwives, healthcare professionals and guests attended the service. Barbara Dossey, INCA Co-Director and Florence Nightingale scholar, was in attendance (seated on left under pulpit, second row, 7 seats in). The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr. John Hall who also gave the Address, led the service. Ros Moore, Chief Nursing Officer Scotland, gave the first reading and Group Captain Michael Priestley, Defense Nursing Advisor, delivered the second reading.
Gloria Rowland led the traditional Procession of the Lamp with an escort of student nurses from the University of the West of England. On arrival before the High Altar, the Lamp was handed to Lee Marklew who, in turn, passed the Lamp to Róisín McKeon-Carter. Gloria, Lee and Róisín are all Florence Nightingale Scholars.
{
Barbara Dossey, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, HWNC-BC, is an internationally recognized integrative, holistic nursing pioneer, a nurse theorist (Theory of Integral Nursing; co-author, Theory of Integrative Nurse Coaching), and Florence Nightingale Scholar. She is Co-Director, International Nurse Coach Association (INCA) and Core Faculty, Integrative Nurse Coach® Certificate Program (INCCP), Miami, Florida; International Co-Director, Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH); and Director of Holistic Nursing Consultants (HNC), Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has authored or co-authored 25 books including Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (7th ed., 2016); Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing (2015); The Art and Science of Nurse Coaching: The Provider’s Guide for Coaching Scope and Competencies (2013); Florence Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer (2010, Commemorative Edition). She is a founding member of the American Holistic Nurses Association and Holistic Nurse of the Year. She is an 11-time recipient of the prestigious American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award, and has received many other awards. Barbara is also on the ANA’s Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation™ Grand Challenge Advisory Board.
