Episode Summary:
In this inspiring episode of Don't Eat Your Young, host Beth Quaas sits down with author and professor Melissa Pritchard to dive deep into the life and legacy of Florence Nightingale — the true original "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) in nursing.
Melissa shares the incredible story behind her novel Flight of the Wild Swan and how a serendipitous visit to the Florence Nightingale Museum led her to chronicle Nightingale's groundbreaking impact on healthcare, nursing leadership, public health reform, and the modern role of nurses today.

Learn how Florence Nightingale’s vision, statistical genius, and unwavering compassion still influence nursing practice, healthcare systems, and women's leadership more than 200 years later. If you’re a nurse, healthcare worker, history lover, or leader, this episode will leave you inspired and proud of your profession.

Key Topics Covered:

Melissa Pritchard’s journey to writing Flight of the Wild Swan
Florence Nightingale’s revolutionary contributions to nursing and healthcare
Nursing leadership lessons from Florence Nightingale
How Nightingale’s work in the Crimean War shaped modern healthcare
The power of calling, service, and compassionate leadership

Resources & Links:
Connect with Melissa Pritchard on Facebook and Instagram.
Get your copy of Flight of the Wild Swan here.
Visit Melissa's website.

Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!
Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★