Brazilian nursing in pandemic times and the bicentennial of Florence Nightingale

ABSTRACT Objective: To reflect on the role of Brazilian nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering as a historical landmark the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a precursor of modern nursing, celebrated in 2020. Method: Theoretical-reflective study, based on Florence Nightingale’s environmental theory through a literature review, carried out in international and national virtual news from different sources and added to the authors’ experiences related to the pandemic. Results: It was possible to identify the weaknesses experienced by nurse practitioners as to contagion by COVID-19, the routine of exposure to risks, the lack of adequate protection in many scenarios, the high rates of illness, and also deaths that occurred in this profession. Final considerations: Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory describes the importance of the adequacy of the work environment. It also emphasizes the value of this professional for contemporary nursing and the redefinition of this professional category during the COVID-19 pandemic.