Florence Nightingale and Antimicrobial Stewardship

Following the uniquely coincident Year of the Nurse and the year of the pandemic, striking similarities between the principles and innovations that Florence Nightingale introduced to nursing and the inclusion of nurses in the pursuit of antimicrobial stewardship have become evident. Issues of universal healthcare, the treatment of infections, workforce collaboration, and quality of care are as critical in the 21(st) century as they were in Nightingale’s lifetime. The importance of nursing involvement in each of these areas is compared and discussed with their relevance to past, present, and future healthcare.