What is the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses? (With Examples of Use in Daily Practice, History, & Importance)


Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »»
RN, BSN, MBA

If you are a nurse, chances are, you recited the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses at least once in your career. If you are considering becoming a nurse or simply interested in the nursing profession, you may wonder, “What is the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses?” The Pledge is truly a timeless testament to the professional standards that define nursing practice. In this article, we will explore the history and significance of the Nightingale Pledge. I will also share some examples of how nurses can reflect the Pledge in daily practice.



What Is The Nightingale Pledge?


The Nightingale Pledge, named in honor of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, is a statement of principles and ethics designed to guide nursing professionals. The Pledge serves as an ethical and moral guide for nurses which emphasizes key values of nursing practice, such as professionalism, compassion, advocacy, and continuous learning.



When Was The Original Nightingale Pledge Created?


The original Nightingale Pledge was created in 1893.



Who Created The Original Nightingale Pledge?


The Nightingale Pledge for nurses was created collaboratively by Lystra Gretter, a famed nursing pioneer, and a Committee for the Farrand Training School for Nurses in Detroit.



What Led To The Creation Of The Original Nightingale Pledge?


Several factors led to the creation of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses. As nursing began evolving into a more respected and formal profession in the late 19th century, there was a need for a Code of Ethics to elevate standards of practice and guide nurses in their roles. Additionally, the work of Florence Nightingale, for whom the Pledge is named, profoundly impacted the field of nursing and efforts to reform healthcare. Her belief in and emphasis on patient care and ethical practices inspired the creation of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses.



When Was The Nightingale Pledge Updated?


The Nightingale Pledge was originally revised in 1935, expanding nursing roles to include human welfare and public health. In this version, the concept of nurses as "missioners of health" dedicated to human welfare was introduced. In recent years, many nursing schools have created revised versions of the Pledge to include more modern nursing values, emphasizing prioritizing patient protection over physician loyalty and nursing independence.



Why Was The Nightingale Pledge Updated?


The Nightingale Pledge was updated to reflect changing nursing practices, expanded nursing roles, and modern nursing values. Some of the main reasons the Pledge was updated include ensuring that the Pledge aligns with contemporary ethical practices and principles, such as informed consent and patient self-determination, and making the Pledge more reflective and inclusive of diverse patient populations.



What Are The Three Versions Of The Nightingale Pledge?


As healthcare and the roles of nurses evolve, new versions of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses may be created. Currently, there are three main versions of the Pledge.

1. The Original 1893 Pledge

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I shall abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and shall not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I shall 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. I shall be loyal to my work and devoted towards the welfare of those committed to my care.

2. The Updated 1935 Pledge

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice 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, I will endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and as a 'missioner of health,' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.

3. Modern Practical Nurse Pledge

Before God and those assembled here, I solemnly pledge; To adhere to the code of ethics of the nursing profession; To cooperate faithfully with the other members of the nursing team, and to carry out faithfully and to the best of my ability the instructions of the physician or the nurse who may be assigned to supervise my work; I will not do anything evil or malicious, and I will not knowingly give any harmful drug or assist in malpractice. I will not reveal any confidential information that may come to my knowledge in the course of my work. And I pledge myself to do all in my power to raise the standards and prestige of practical nursing; May my life be devoted to service and to the high ideals of the nursing profession.



What Version Of The Nightingale Pledge Is Commonly Used In Nursing Today?


The version of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses commonly used varies by institution. Most schools and nursing organizations, however, have adopted the Modern Nightingale Pledge, which reflects contemporary values and ethical standards.



When Do Nurses Take The Nightingale Pledge?


Nurses typically take the Nightingale Pledge during pinning ceremonies. The pinning ceremony is an event designed to mark the transition from nursing student to professional nurse and usually takes place before graduating from the nursing program and taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).



What Principles And Values Form The Foundation Of The Nightingale Pledge For Nurses?


The Nightingale Pledge is built upon several core values and principles that reflect professional and ethical standards of nursing practice. The principles and values that form the foundation of the Pledge include social responsibility, continuous learning, patient advocacy, confidentiality, professionalism, and non-discriminatory care.



5 Reasons Why The Nightingale Pledge Is Important In Nursing


The Nightingale Pledge for Nurses is significant to the nursing profession for several reasons. The following are five main reasons the Pledge is so important.

Reason #1: The Pledge Encourages Professionalism

The Nightingale Pledge promotes professionalism by supporting a commitment to ethical practice, which helps nurses uphold accountability and integrity in practice. The Pledge also encourages continuous personal and professional improvement, which fosters a culture of professional development and lifelong learning. Also, the Pledge promotes interdisciplinary collaboration which improves overall quality of care and interprofessional relationships.

Reason #2: Moral Guidance

The Nightingale Pledge for Nurses acts as a moral guide for nurses by focusing on ethical values and principles that shape professional nursing conduct. For example, nurses pledge to uphold honesty and integrity in practice. The Pledge also stresses the importance of compassion, empathy, and confidentiality in patient care.

As a healthcare educator, I have always stressed to my students that having high moral standards is essential to success in nursing. When nurses have high moral standards, as the Nightingale Pledge recommends, we can build trusting nurse-patient relationships, provide consistent, high-quality care, and foster creditability and respect within our healthcare communities.

Reason #3: Promotes High Nursing Standards

The Nightingale Pledge uses several principles to promote high nursing standards. The Pledge emphasizes professionalism, ethical practice, and patient advocacy, to name a few. Nurses who take the Nightingale Pledge promise to practice within guidelines for care that are designed to promote positive patient, organizational, and professional outcomes.

Reason #4: It Promotes an Ethical Foundation

The Nightingale Pledge establishes a solid ethical foundation for nurses to build upon. The pledge emphasizes principles such as patient advocacy, which is at the heart of everything nurses do. Nurses pledge to uphold confidentiality by keeping all personal patient matters in trust. Additionally, the Pledge is a commitment to uphold accountability and integrity.

If I could give any advice to nurses, I would say that being ethical is of utmost importance. Anyone can do a job half-heartedly or bend the rules to suit their every whim. It takes a truly dedicated nurse to act in an ethical manner, even when others do not. Being an ethical nurse will help build your credibility within the healthcare profession, which can create a positive impact on your care in the long term.

Reason #5: Acts As a Symbol of Commitment

Nurses recite the Nightingale Pledge during pinning ceremonies to symbolize their commitment to the profession. A commitment to the nursing profession means promising to act with the highest regard for patients and dedication to delivering high-quality patient care.



What Are The Most Common Examples Of How The Nightingale Pledge Guides Nurses In Their Daily Practice?

(The following are the 8 most common examples of how the Nightingale Pledge guides nurses in their daily practice.)


Example #1: Demonstrating Dedication and Loyalty

One of the top examples of how nurses honor the Nightingale Pledge in practice is by demonstrating dedication and loyalty. Nurses pledge to perform their duties to the best of their abilities to promote the well-being and positive outcomes of patients.


Example #2: Providing Compassionate Patient Care

The Nightingale Pledge stresses the importance of compassion in nursing care. Nurses uphold the Pledge by demonstrating empathy and compassion in their interactions with patients and their loved ones. You can show compassion by actively listening, providing personalized care, utilizing a holistic approach to care, and being supportive during difficult times.


Example #3: Participating in Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Interdisciplinary collaboration is another example of how the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses guides daily practice. The Pledge promotes nurses providing high standards of care and professional responsibility, which are enhanced by interprofessional collaboration. By working with physicians, social workers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, nurses can establish and implement individualized patient care interventions based on all the patient’s needs.


Example #4: Respecting Patient Autonomy

Patient autonomy is at the core of all healthcare decision-making in the United States. Patients have a legal right to make choices about the medical care and treatments they receive as long as those decisions are within the law. The Nightingale Pledge emphasizes the importance of respecting a patient's decisions, and nurses do that by respecting the patient's right to self-determination.


Example #5: Being a Patient Advocate

Patient advocacy is a core component of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses. The Pledge reflects advocacy in several ways, including upholding patient confidentiality, providing holistic care, and being committed to ethical practice. Each of these acts encompasses advocating for patient rights and helping ensure patients receive appropriate care.

I remember in nursing school one of my instructors told me that the best thing I could aspire to be as a nurse is a patient advocate. She told me that everything we do as nurses should focus on our patients and their well-being and that if I would apply myself to the role of an advocate, there was no limit to what I could accomplish as a nurse.


Example #6: Making Ethical Decisions About Patient Care

The Nightingale Pledge recognizes ethical behavior as a core principle in nursing. Nurses honor the Pledge by acting with integrity and professional accountability. Ethical decision-making includes behaviors such as prioritizing patient eds, promoting patient welfare, and honoring patients’ rights. Ethical decision-making also includes staying informed about ethical guidelines and best practices that support high-quality patient care.


Example #7: Engaging in Lifelong Learning

One of my favorite things about nursing is that there are unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. I believe nurses who are deeply committed to their role and furthering the profession succeed by applying themselves in a constant state of learning.

The Nightingale Pledge for Nurses encourages nurses to embrace a commitment to lifelong learning. Nurses can reflect the attributes of the Pledge by acknowledging that lifelong learning helps them maintain and elevate the standards of the nursing profession while staying current with the latest healthcare advancements. Being involved in continuous improvement of knowledge and skills, such as earning additional degrees or certificates, and engaging in professional development activities are a few ways to reflect the Pledge in daily practice.


Example #8: Avoiding Harmful Practices

Having a commitment to patient safety is one of the core responsibilities of nurses. The Nightingale Pledge not only reflects patient safety in its core principles, but it does so in several ways. Nurses can reflect the principles of the Pledge by making patient safety a top priority. In fact, ethical principles of nursing include non-maleficence, which means to do no harm, and beneficence, which means acting in the best interest of the patient. Nurses avoid harmful practices and reflect the Nightingale Pledge by providing high-quality nursing care that emphasizes patient welfare.



My Final Thoughts


While many people have heard of the Hippocratic Oath, which is one of the most widely known ethical codes in medicine, not everyone has heard of the Nightingale Pledge. If you are considering becoming a nurse, you may have wondered, “What is the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses?" In this article, you learned about the Nightingale Pledge, including its history and significance, and discovered examples of how nurses can reflect the Pledge in daily practice.



Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Our Expert


1. Who Created The Updated 1935 Pledge Version?

The 1935 version of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses was updated by a committee of nursing educators and professionals.


2. Who Created The Modern Practical Nurse Pledge Version?

The Modern Practical Nurse version of the Nightingale Pledge was developed by various nurse educators over time. The adaptation was created to reflect the changing nature and contemporary values of the nursing profession.


3. How Is The Nightingale Pledge Different From The Hippocratic Oath?

While the Nightingale Pledge and Hippocratic Oath are both ethical guidelines used in the medical field, they are tailored to different professions. The Nightingale Pledge is specifically designed for nurses, and the Hippocratic Oath is aimed at outlining the responsibilities and expected ethical conduct of doctors.


4. What Is The Difference Between The Nightingale Pledge And The Nursing Code Of Ethics?

The Nightingale Pledge is a ceremonial pledge taken by nurses that emphasizes dedication to patient care and personal integrity. It is an oath that reflects the ethics and values of nursing at the time it was written. The Nursing Code of Ethics is a detailed, comprehensive guide that covers the diverse aspects of nursing practice. The Code of Ethics is updated regularly to reflect current practices and ethical standards in nursing.


5. Is The Nightingale Pledge Integrated Into Nursing Education?

The Nightingale Pledge for Nurses is integrated into nursing education, often in nursing ethics courses, which are designed to help students understand the historical and ethical foundations of the nursing profession.


6. How Do Nursing Students Learn About The Nightingale Pledge?

Nursing students learn about the Nightingale Pledge through various ceremonial and educational contexts. For example, nursing programs often include discussions about the Pledge in classes on the history of nursing and professionalism. In clinical settings, instructors and preceptors may refer to the Nightingale Pledge when discussing the importance of patient care, professional integrity, and ethical behavior.


7. Do Nursing Graduates Recite The Nightingale Pledge During Their Nursing School Graduation Ceremony?

Some nursing schools include recitation of the Nightingale Pledge for Nurses as part of their graduation ceremonies.


8. Are There Any Controversies Surrounding The Nightingale Pledge In Modern-Day Nursing?

There are some controversies surrounding the Nightingale Pledge in modern-day nurses. One of the controversies is that the Pledge includes the mention of God, which some people feel makes non-religious or non-Christian nurses feel excluded. Additionally, the phrase “aid the physician in his work” has been a source of contention among some individuals who feel it implies subordination to male physicians and that it does not reflect gender equality.


9. Is The Nightingale Pledge Also Taken By Nurses Outside Of The United States?

The Nightingale Pledge is not commonly recited by nurses outside of the United States. In other parts of the world, nursing traditions and ethical guidelines vary, and many countries have their own pledges that reflect their cultural values.


10. Is The Nightingale Pledge The Only Nursing Pledge That Nurses Take?

While it is the most well-known nursing pledge, nurses sometimes take other oaths and pledges, depending on their institution, nursing program, and country.


11. Can The Nightingale Pledge Be Revamped In The Future?

The Nightingale Pledge has been through several modifications since its creation in 1893. Therefore, it is natural to assume that it may be revamped in the future.


12. Do Nurses Really Find The Nightingale Pledge Useful?

Many nurses find the Nightingale Pledge useful. As both a nurse and healthcare educator, I have found that the Pledge inspires new nurses to uphold high standards of professionalism. It is also a reminder of our personal commitment to the nursing profession and our role in nursing.



List Of Sources Used For This Article


1. “What is the Nightingale Pledge?” (Herzing University)
2. “The Florence Nightingale Pledge” (nacn-usa.org)
3. “Why Ethics in Nursing Matters” (American Nurses Association)
4. “12 Ways to Show Compassion in Nursing (with Examples)” (nursingprocess.org)
5. “7 Main Ethical Principles in Nursing + Why They’re Important” (nursingprocess.org)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.