The artifact that I chose is known as the traditional nursing lamp, this lamp is

given to a nurse during the pinning ceremony upon successful completion of a nursing

program. The lamps history dates back to the 1850’s when Florence Nightingale used a

lamp to help guide her at night while she tended to the injured and sick during

the Crimean War.

Florence Nightingale is the woman who molded the profession of nursing known

today. Ms. Nightingale carried a lamp that looks nothing like the traditional nursing

lamp, her lamp was a Turkish style lantern,(www.florence-nightingale-collections.co.uk).

The lamp was made like an accordion and was made with linen cloth or paper wrapped

around thin wire and held together with two metal ends, usually made of copper. A candle

was used for the light. Today’s nursing lamp resembles a “genie” lamp and is mostly

made from ceramic although there are ones made from other materials, such as silver.

Today’s nursing lamps can be personalized or have the nursing schools insignia on it.

Ms. Nightingale was given the nickname of “The Lady with the Lamp”, by the people she

gave aid to during the Crimean War.

The nursing lamp is considered a symbol of the care and devotion that a nurse will

provide to the injured or sick during his or her nursing career.

(www.nursingworld.org/functionalmenucategories/aboutana/wherewecamefrom/florence

nightingale). The first nurse pinning ceremony took place in the 1860’s and at this time

Florence Nightingale lit a lamp and as each nurse said a pledge, known as the Nightingale

Pledge, she would light their lamp to signify their devotion to the care of others.

I am very proud of my nursing lamp and it remains displayed in my home

today even though I received it more than 10 years ago. I still remember not really

knowing what the lamp