Barbie^TM You Can Be Anything^TM: The Experience at The Children’s Museum serves to inspire young women and nurture their limitless potential. With over 200 careers and counting, Barbie is committed to shining a light on empowering role models from the past and present. In this blog series, we’re introducing you to some of the Barbie role models—extraordinary women from all walks of life who have been honored with a doll in their likeness. Earlier, we shared 10 Facts About ELLA FITZGERALD®, 10 Facts About Amelia Earhart, and 10 Facts about Laurie Hernandez. Are you ready to meet another inspiring woman? 

Meet Florence Nightingale

Henry Hering (1814-1893), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Florence Nightingale was a statistician known as the “Founder of Modern Nursing” because of her focus and drive to improve hospital efficiency and standards. Nightingale was a nurse on the front lines during the Crimean War. She took action by keeping areas sanitized and reduced the death count. Nightingale became known as the “Lady with the Lamp” because she often conducted late night rounds to check on patients. 

10 facts about Florence Nightingale 

1. Florence Nightingale was given an engraved brooch by Queen Victoria that is known as the “Nightingale Jewel.” 
2. Florence Nightingale was fluent in many languages! She knew English, French, German, and Italian. 
3. Florence Nightingale refused a marriage proposal and marriage because she wanted to focus on her career in nursing and helping people. 
4. She frequently wrote home to families for soldiers who had passed away at war.
5. Nightingale wrote books about reforms in healthcare when she was diagnosed with a chronic illness that made her bedridden.
6. Florence started a nursing school called the Nightingale Training School to reduce the stigma of women entering the medical field. 
7. Nightingale is credited with creating the first pie chart!
8. In 1907, she was given the Order of Merit by King Edward and then the following year she was the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City of London.
9. Florence was a very private person, so she requested that her funeral be a private affair and her family followed her last wishes. Nightingale was buried in her private family plot in London. 
10. There is now a museum in her honor where the Nightingale Training School for Nurses once sat. It houses more than 2,000 artifacts commemorating her life. 

Come learn more about Florence and other role models at The Children Museum! Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience is open through July 2022 and is included with museum admission. Don’t miss out on this all-new exhibit that inspires young girls to see that the possibilities are endless! 

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