A Beacon of Light for 39 Years: The Journey of Xing Hong, 50th Florence Nightingale Award Laureate

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From being deeply moved by patients’ pain to becoming a guiding light in the world of oncology care; from pioneering clinical innovations to safeguarding lives across mountains and seas—Xing Hong has remained true to her mission.

In the century-long history of the Florence Nightingale Award, each laureate represents the highest ideals of the nursing profession—nobility, compassion, and dedication. Recently, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced the recipients of the 50th Florence Nightingale Award. With seven awardees, China led the list, and among them, the name of Xing Hong, Chief Nurse of the Oncology Center at Shanghai General Hospital, stood out prominently. Over her 39-year nursing career, Xing has donned her white uniform like armor, using her expertise and compassion to light the way for countless cancer patients. Her work is a vivid embodiment of the Florence Nightingale spirit: “devotion to humanity and selfless dedication.”

A Vow Sparked by Pain: A Tearful Plea that Led to Breakthrough Innovation

One ordinary morning in the early 1990s, a young nurse named Xing Hong was making her rounds in the ward when a trembling, bruised hand suddenly clutched her sleeve. "Whenever I hear the sound of the treatment trolley in the hallway, I start sweating in fear... the pain is unbearable. Maybe I should just give up." The patient’s choked words struck Xing like a hammer. The back of the patient’s hand was red, swollen, and ulcerated from chemical phlebitis due to repeated intravenous infusions—an all-too-common sight in oncology wards at the time.

In those years, cancer patients had to endure the double burden of aggressive chemotherapy drugs and outdated infusion techniques. Without peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) or ultrasound guidance, repeated needle insertions led to excruciating pain, tissue necrosis, and deep despair. Moved by the suffering in front of her, Xing made a silent vow: to find a fundamental solution to reduce patients' pain.

When the Oncology Department was established at Shanghai General Hospital in 1994, Xing volunteered to join. During a training session, she encountered the concept of PICC for the first time—a beam of hope. Determined, she reached out to companies for materials, studied operation videos in her dorm room, and annotated foreign literature late into the night. In 1998, she successfully inserted the first PICC line in Shanghai for a cancer patient. As she held the patient’s healing arm, her eyes welled with tears—the vow in her heart had finally become reality.

Guarding Life Across Mountains: A Medical Miracle in Daliangshan

In 2024, Xing joined a medical outreach team to the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province—a region with high rates of HIV/AIDS and limited medical infrastructure. In one makeshift ward, she met a 5-year-old girl with intestinal tuberculosis and obstruction. Emaciated and covered in bruises, the child screamed in pain with every injection. Her father crouched in the corner, wiping tears with his rough, calloused hands.

Xing knelt beside the child, gently holding her trembling hand. “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. I’ll do a little magic. It won’t hurt anymore,” she said. Drawing on her expertise in ultrasound-guided techniques, she successfully inserted a PICC line. As the nutritional solution began to flow, Xing’s heart filled with resolve—to promote this life-saving technique across the region.

One patient Xing will never forget was an HIV-positive man who had applied a folk remedy that caused his skin to peel off in sheets. With no intact skin left, establishing venous access seemed impossible. Repeated consultations with her team led Xing to try midline catheter insertion. Gently holding the patient’s hand before the procedure, she reassured him, “Don’t worry. We’ll take our time.” Her calm presence helped the patient relax, and the procedure was successful. Overcome with gratitude, he said in broken Mandarin, “Thank you. Thank you for saving me!”

Beyond performing difficult procedures herself, Xing led in-person training sessions in Liangshan, teaching local nurses catheter maintenance techniques. She understood that only by building a sustainable local medical team could lasting care be delivered. From bustling hospital wards by day to simple classrooms by night, Xing embodied the boundless compassion of a true healer.

A Flame That Never Goes Out: From Clinical Innovation to Life Advocacy

Xing’s journey of innovation has never ceased. She developed a modified Seldinger technique without ultrasound guidance, raising PICC success rates from 60% to 90%. She led the establishment of China’s first PICC outpatient clinic and its first vascular access nursing studio, authored the country's first PICC nursing monograph, and has trained over 6,000 specialized nurses nationwide. Her support work spans over 60 grassroots institutions and includes more than 1,000 external consultations.

In 2021, Xing championed the establishment of "Standardized Community Outpatient Clinics for Vascular Catheter Care," bringing professional services closer to cancer patients' homes. Wu Shasha, a specialist nurse at the Wanli Community Health Service Center in Putuo District, shared that under Xing’s guidance, the clinic began operations in October 2022 and has since trained seven infusion nurses and served over 400 PICC and infusion port patients—breaking the stereotype that community centers only offer basic injections and medication. To date, 40 community demonstration sites have collectively maintained nearly 5,000 catheter cases—without a single complication.

While relieving physical suffering, Xing also focuses on patients’ emotional well-being. In 1995, she founded the “Oncology Recovery Salon,” creating a space of emotional support and connection. She once treated a breast cancer patient with severe skin ulcers for three consecutive months—restoring dignity and hope through unwavering care. Inspired by her, many recovered patients have joined the volunteer team, spreading hope to others.

Over her 39-year nursing career, Xing Hong has brought the essence of the Florence Nightingale spirit to life. From being moved by her patients’ pain to becoming a lantern-bearer of life; from trailblazing clinical innovation to bringing healing to remote corners of the country, she has always stayed true to her calling. As the Florence Nightingale Medal hangs on her chest, Xing remains humble: “Throughout my career, I’ve only focused on one thing—whether my cancer patients are smiling. Their trust is what keeps me going.”

This simple vow is perhaps the most powerful expression of a caregiver’s heart.