Florence Wald

Florence Wald

Florence Wald (April 19, 1917 – November 8, 2008) was an American nurse, former Dean of Yale School of Nursing, and a pioneer in the hospice movement in the United States. She is credited with founding the first hospice program in the United States, the Connecticut Hospice, in Branford, Connecticut. Her work has had a profound impact on the care of the terminally ill and their families, changing the way end-of-life care is approached in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Florence Wald was born in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1938 and her Master of Nursing from Yale University School of Nursing in 1941. Wald's interest in end-of-life care began after attending a lecture by Cicely Saunders, a British nurse who founded the modern hospice movement, during the 1960s.

Career

After completing her education, Wald began her career in nursing. She served as the Dean of the Yale School of Nursing from 1959 to 1966. During her tenure, she focused on improving the nursing curriculum to include a more holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the importance of care for the dying.

In 1963, inspired by Saunders' work, Wald visited St. Christopher's Hospice in London, which further motivated her to introduce hospice care to the United States. Upon her return, she worked tirelessly to establish a hospice program, which culminated in the opening of the Connecticut Hospice in 1974. This hospice was the first of its kind in the United States and served as a model for future hospice programs across the country.

Wald's vision for hospice care was revolutionary. She believed in providing compassionate care that addressed the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Her work helped to shift the focus of end-of-life care from solely medical interventions to comfort and quality of life.

Legacy

Florence Wald's contributions to nursing and hospice care have left a lasting legacy. She is recognized as a pioneer in the field, and her work has helped to establish hospice care as an essential part of the healthcare system in the United States. Wald received numerous awards and honors for her contributions, including the American Academy of Nursing's first Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wald passed away in 2008, but her vision and dedication to improving end-of-life care continue to influence nurses and healthcare professionals around the world. The Connecticut Hospice remains a testament to her life's work, providing care to thousands of patients and families each year.

See Also

• Hospice
• Palliative care
• Nursing
• Yale School of Nursing