Scots Nightingale: Legacy of the woman who revolutionised the nursing profession

Stevie Gallacher, Scottish Sunday Post

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. I love learning more about history. The story of Rebecca Strong and her role in nursing was fascinating. It shows through the writing that the author researched because of the depth of the story. It was informative and interesting at the same time. I highly recommend this to history lovers out there. I can't wait for more from this author.

NetGalley, Bitsy M

In this brilliant and fascinating new history book, Judith Vallely brings Rebecca Strong, a nineteenth century woman who shaped modern nurses’ education, to life. From early widowhood and motherhood to becoming Florence Nightingale’s protegee and collaborating with Sir William Macewen, readers discover the critical transformation of nursing and healthcare beyond the (incredibly important) actions of Florence Nightingale at the same time. With a second focus on Rebecca Strong’s life and travels after retiring from active nursing, readers follow her international travels and meetings with future important figures like Mussolini and European royalty as she approaches her hundredth birthday. With so many fascinating moments and facts embedded in this incredible new biography, women’s history readers and medical history readers will love this expansion of nursing history beyond Florence Nightingale and the institutionalization and consolidation of healthcare in the nineteenth century. Rebecca Strong’s remarkable life makes for engaging and immersive reading, and Vallely’s prose and organization of this book makes it incredibly interesting for all readers. With its brilliant facts and immersive narrative style, this book’s depth of information and historical research really builds a great narrative and exciting series of events. Exciting, impressive, and immersive, this is a great new women’s history title about another remarkable woman in the healthcare industry.

NetGalley, Lily Amidon

In this book, the author describes the life of this remarkable woman whose vision and tenacity enabled the training of nurses to be improved, not only in Glasgow but worldwide, with her revolutionary ideas implemented into the training of nurses all over the world.

The book is well written, with black and white illustrations and references, and is an important contribution to the history of nursing pioneers.

Dr Arpan K. Banerjee, for the Hekoten International

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I left the NHS in 2022 after 41 years of clinical experience and still registered as an RGN. I have reviewed many nursing text book, the obvious was Florence Nightingale and laterly we heard of Mary Seacole but never Rebecca Strong. So was really interested to learn more about this remarkable lady.

What a remarkable lady who spent her life educating young nurses. I had no idea there was a Scottish connection having worked in Edinburgh in the 80s. She put down her long life as hard work and simple living.

Sad that she was a young protégé of Florence Nightgale but never celebrated until now and sad she was not more known in Scotland also.

Interesting read for nurses and students.

NetGalley, Jane Brown

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I had never heard of Rebecca Strong until this biography. Reading it was inspiring and left me feeling empowered and amazed. What an amazing influence on the nursing profession! How she got overshadowed by Florence Nightingale, I'm not sure. This woman ranks right up there with impressive nursing innovation especially in the realm of education and registration for nurses. I am in awe!

NetGalley, Ashleigh Carter

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Rebecca Strong lived to be 100. She nursed with Florence Nightingale and was the first nurse to take a temperature and get reprimanded by a doctor for doing so. However, she pioneered the training of nurses in hospitals, which helped standardize and improve training. This is a very interesting biography of a nurse who is not as well known as others but made a significant contribution to professional standards. It's well-written and an enjoyable read.

NetGalley, Rachael Rowe