The Nightingale Tribute
The Nightingale Tribute begins with a short synopsis of the nurse’s career. A creative reading follows the synopsis. A white rose is placed with the nurse or in a vase after the reading, with the statement, “(Name), we honor you this day and give you a white rose to symbolize our honor and appreciation for being our nursing colleague.” This entire tribute takes only a few minutes and can be placed anywhere in the service appropriate to the traditions and beliefs of the recipient’s faith. If you choose to have the nurses attending the service each place white roses, the time alloted for the Tribute will take longer.
How do I arrange the tribute?
- Visit with your funeral home director about this tribute.
- Choose an RN friend or colleague (active or retired) of the deceased to present the tribute.
- Ask the nurse to visit with you. Provide them a brief synopsis of your loved one’s life as a nurse.
- Use the words included with this brochure as a creative reading to follow the career synopsis. Adapt the reading to fit the recipient.
- Schedule the Tribute in the service in collaboration with the family, funeral home, and place of worship as appropriate.
- Decide if you would like a white rose placed with your loved one in tribute and honor. If so, notify the nurse presenter and any other nurse friends to bring a white rose or consider having white roses to distribute to nurses as they arrive. (Sam's has beautiful white roses available at reasonable prices. Be sure to call ahead)
The Nightingale Tribute Reading
Nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, a way of living. Nurses here today honor _______________ and his/her life as a nurse.
_______________ is not remembered by his/her _____ years as a nurse, but by the difference he/she made during those years by stepping into people’s lives . . . . by special moments.
She Was There
When a calming, quiet presence was all that was needed,
He/She was there.
In the excitement and miracle of birth or in the mystery and loss of life,
He/She was there.
When a silent glance could uplift a patient, family member or friend,
He/She was there.
At those times when the unexplainable needed to be explained,
He/She was there.
When the situation demanded a swift foot and sharp mind,
He/She was there.
When a gentle touch, a firm push, or an encouraging word was needed,
He/She was there.
In choosing the best one from a family’s Thank-You box of chocolates,
He/She was there.
To witness humanity’s beauty, in good times and bad, without judgment,
He/She was there.
To embrace the woes of the world, willingly, and offer hope,
He/She was there.
And now, that it is time to be at the Greater One’s side,
He/She was there.
Note: Pronoun can be changed © 2004 by Duane Jaeger, RN, MSN
_______________, we honor you this day and give you a white rose to symbolize our honor and appreciation for being our colleague. ©
Nightingale Tribute Created by the Kansas State Nurses Association. KSNA forwarded resolution at the 2005 ANA House of Delegates encouraging other states to adopt the Nightingale Tribute. Oklahoma Nurses Association adopted the Nightingale Tribute at the 2005 ONA House of Delegates. Click here to read the resolution.
