Ann M. Kolanowski

"Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not" was first published in 1859. To this day it is recognized as the theoretical basis of professional nursing. Florence Nightingale drew attention to the impact of environment on health and recognized its tremendous importance for healing. Her thoughts are as compelling today as they were 150 years ago. I often refer to this text in my undergraduate and graduate classes because Nightingale's words capture the essense of nursing as no other author has. Like another great contemporary of her time, she "belongs to the ages".