Nurse & Reformer
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
Florence Nightingale was the pioneer of modern nursing, whose work in the Crimea transformed the care of wounded soldiers and elevated nursing into a respected profession.
The Crimean War
During the Crimean War (1853–1856), Nightingale led a team of nurses to tend to British soldiers wounded in battle. She found the military hospitals in appalling conditions, with soldiers dying in their thousands from infections and poor sanitation rather than from their wounds alone.
By insisting on cleanliness, proper ventilation, and good nutrition, she dramatically reduced death rates. She became known as "the Lady with the Lamp" because she walked the wards at night by lamplight, checking on patients.
Transforming Nursing
On returning to Britain, Nightingale worked tirelessly to reform healthcare and the nursing profession. She founded a nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London, which trained generations of nurses and established standards that spread around the world.
Before her work, nursing was not considered a respectable career. She changed that entirely, turning it into a trained, professional vocation with proper standards of care. She is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.
Key facts for the test
- Lived from 1820 to 1910
- Pioneer of modern nursing
- Went to the Crimea to tend to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War
- Known as "the Lady with the Lamp"
- Transformed nursing into a respected profession
- Founded a nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital, London
Test yourself
Questions about Florence Nightingale appear in the Life in the UK Test.
Take a mock exam →