Patient care and nursing in the Crimean War

In this study the participation of patient care provided during the Crimean War, (1853-1856) which started in October 1853 between the Russian Czardom and the Ottoman Empire in alliance with England, France and Sardinia, on the professionalization of nursing was examined. A comprehensive literature review of Ottoman military documents was done in this context and sites associated with this subject were visited and examinedIn the context of the general framework created for the subject, the participation of scientific-technical-industrial developments which occur as outcomes of every war and which occurred both during this war and during the 19th Century were evaluated for their part in the modernization of medicine in general and Ottoman medicine in particular. From the aspect of the foundation of modern nursing the position of women in patient care was examined in the period of time prior to this event. During the Crimean War in particular Ottoman physicians focused on preventive medical practices for epidemics and endemic illnesses which were the common enemy of all armies and caused more loss of life than injuries from weapons. A general comparative analysis of the medical dimension was conducted of all sides of the warAs in previous wars in the Crimean War there were male patient care givers in all armies who were called health officers, grooms or surgeons. An important innovation which occurred except in the Ottoman army was the addition of women as patient care givers or said another way, women showed their activity in patient care in the allied armies. The foundation of nursing was laid in Russia; behind the lines French nuns worked successfully as nurses; an English woman named Seacole intervened in warning public health medicine about the conditions at the front, and finally developments in Istanbul occurred and Nightingale nursing of the future arose which continues today.