History of Nursing in Islam
* Why do nurses everywhere think that Florence Nightingale was the first nurse who made a meaningful contribution, even in Islam ?
* So then who was the first Islamic Nurse?
Introduction :
* When we think about leaders in nursing, most imagine a picture of Florence Nightingale
* Rufaidah bint Sa’ad Al Aslamiyah was the First Nurse in Islam; many centuries before Florence Nightingale
* Nursing was considered the first profession for women in Islamic history
History:
It is important to know where we came from in order to plan what we can become.
Nursing Pre-Islam:
* No documentation about nursing is founded pre Islam (569AD)
* Patient was treated in home by physician & pharmacist
* Family members carried out the care
Nursing in Islam:
* The first record ofnursing activity originated in the time of prophet Mohamed in the holy wars
* Muslims women used to treat injured soldiers during the Islamic war
* Prophet Mohamed acknowledged their work and counted it as JEHAD and rewarded them and the soldiers with “war gains” - profits
* Muslim women did nursing during time of peace, as well as work as midwives - “Salma”
* Nursing in Islamic war did not focus only on treating injured soldiers, but also providing spiritual support to encourage them to fight.
* Nurses in the Islamic era were called different names “Al Assiya” “Al Qawam”
* In the Islamic history nursing was the role of women
Similarities Between Nurse Leaders:
In Islam
* Rafidah Al-Aslamiyah 624 (AD) the first nurse in Islam
* Recognized as nurse during war
* Established clinics in the Mosque
* Taught nursing skills
In West
* Florence Nightingale 1844 the first nurse in the western world
* Recognized as nurse during war
* Started first nursing school
* Taught nursing skills
Dr . Saja H. Mohammed
Assitent Professor