Nursing in the 19th century was not considered a reputable career, but Florence Nightingale and her reforms completely altered society's views on the profession. She helped make hospitals cleaner and more efficient; she helped make nursing an important, respected profession, and helped change the world around her into a better, more caring place. She took the path less traveled and instead of living a life of aristocratic leisure, she chose to become one of the great reformers of her day. Florence Nightingale is very famous for her work as a nurse during the Crimean War, a hospital reformer, and a humanitarian.

Although she was born into the English aristocracy, her ambition was always to help others, and she found her calling in the medical profession. Typically an aristocratic girl could expect to live a carefree, idle life, but this was not enough for Florence Nightingale. Growing up on...