Famous Nurses - List of Famous Nurses

When we talk of famous nurses, Florence Nightingale is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind. Popularly known as the “The Lady with the Lamp”, she went beyond the call of duty while tending to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. Another nurse who received praise for her wartime work is Clara Barton who served as a hospital nurse in the American Civil War and was actively involved in humanitarian work. Well known for her role as a birth control activist and sex educator, American nurse Margaret Higgins Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States. Nurses throughout history have played a pivotal role in bringing about a difference in not just the lives of individual patients, but in promoting major social changes. When Mary Eliza Mahoney, a black woman, became a professionally qualified nurse in the United States in the late 19th century, she challenged professional discrimination against African Americans. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous nurses from all over the globe.

The Most Famous Nurses

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Irena SendlerFebruary 15, 1910PolishIrena Sendler was a Polish nurse who along with her network is credited to have saved the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust
Clara BartonDecember 25, 1821AmericanClara Barton was an American nurse, teacher and founder of the American Red Cross
Mary SeacoleNovember 23, 1805BritishMary Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who became a heroine of the Crimean War
Margaret SangerSeptember 14, 1879AmericanMargaret Sanger is an America born social activist, sex and birth control educator, and a nurse
Cicely SaundersJune 22, 1918BritishCicely Saunders was a prominent nurse, social worker and physician who emphasized the importance of palliative care in modern medicine
Lillian WaldMarch 10, 1867AmericanLillian D
Elizabeth KennySeptember 20, 1880AustralianElizabeth Kenny was an Australian nurse and health administrator
Florence NightingaleMay 12, 1820BritishFlorence Nightingale is popularly known as the ‘Lady with the lamp’ and ‘Angel of Crimea’
Mary Eliza MahoneyApril 16, 1845AmericanMary Eliza Mahoney was the first African-American nurse to work in the hospitals of the United States
Mary Eliza Mahoney

Mary Eliza Mahoney

Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African-American nurse to work in the hospitals of the United States

AmericanApril 16, 1845114 views

Elizabeth Kenny

Elizabeth Kenny was an Australian nurse and health administrator

Lillian Wald

Lillian D

AmericanMarch 10, 1867150 views

Mary Seacole

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who became a heroine of the Crimean War

BritishNovember 23, 1805201 views

Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler was a Polish nurse who along with her network is credited to have saved the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust

PolishFebruary 15, 1910476 views

Cicely Saunders

Cicely Saunders was a prominent nurse, social worker and physician who emphasized the importance of palliative care in modern medicine

BritishJune 22, 1918155 views

Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger is an America born social activist, sex and birth control educator, and a nurse

AmericanSeptember 14, 1879167 views

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale is popularly known as the ‘Lady with the lamp’ and ‘Angel of Crimea’

BritishMay 12, 1820142 views

Clara Barton

Clara Barton was an American nurse, teacher and founder of the American Red Cross

AmericanDecember 25, 1821243 views