Florence Nightingale importance of her later work in professionalising nursing roles for women. In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school in the world, and is now part of King's College London. In recognition of her pioneering work in nursing, the Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses, and the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve, were named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Her social
Anne Marie Rafferty Pennsylvania, where she worked with Dr Linda Aiken on the role of nursing in the Clinton Administration's health care reform agenda. Her research interests combine history, health policy and health services research. She was appointed Director, Centre for Policy in Nursing Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1994, and subsequently Head, Health Services Research Unit. She took up the position of Dean of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London in November 2004 and completed two terms. She is now a Professor of Nursing Policy within the Florence Nightingale Faculty of