The Florence Nightingale Effect

Also called Florence Nightingale syndrome, Nightingale syndrome or The Nightingale effect.

The Florence Nightingale effect is a trope where a caregiver develops romantic feelings, sexual feelings, or both for their patient, even if very little communication or contact takes place outside of basic care. Feelings may fade once the patient is no longer in need of care.

The effect is named for Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in the field of nursing in the second half of the 19th century. Due to her dedication to patient care, she was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" because of her habit of making rounds at night, previously not done. Her care would forever change the way hospitals treated patients. Most consider Nightingale the founder of modern nursing. There is no record of Florence Nightingale having ever fallen in love with one of her patients. In fact, despite multiple suitors, she never married for fear it might interfere with her calling for nursing. Albert Finney referred to the effect as the "Florence Nightingale syndrome" in a 1982 interview, and that phrase was used earlier to refer to health workers pursuing non-tangible rewards in their careers.

They told him that he would forget about her when she no longer were in need of hospital care and went back home. The Florence Nightingale effect they called it. But he wasn't sure they were right. Sure a respected doctor like him would not fall victim for such a thing.

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