The Florence Nightingale Pledge

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The Florence Nightingale Pledge

Lystra Eggert Gretter
Nightingale Pledge, 1935

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and as a 'missioner of health' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.

Nightingale Pledge, 1893

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

This pledge was created in 1893 by a committee led by Lystra Gretter. Gretter updated the final sentence of the pledge to reflect a more public health model in 1935. Read more about the creation of the Nightingale Pledge here.

Reference: Marsha D. M. Fowler, 1984, Ethics and nursing, 1893-1984: the ideal of service, the reality of history, Ph.D. thesis, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

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