Florence visited an orphanage in Germany, and stayed there to help for 2 weeks. She learned about hygiene and the practice of nursing.
She got her first job as a superintendent of London's Institution for Gentlewomen in Distressed Circumstances. This was a place that women could go who were poor or ill for medical aid. She wasn't paid for her job. Although, she made many improvements to her job. She taught the nurses how to be organized, take care of patients so they get the best care, and how to keep everything clean.
Crimean War 1854 Lots of soldiers were suffering from cholera, which was a disease. Florence and a group of 38 nurses arrive at Scutari, Turkey where they are going to help soldiers that were dying. She was eager to help.
Florence becomes known as the Lady with the Lamp when she would do her nightly rounds to check on the soldiers.
Many people gave to support Florence's cause. She used this to set up the Nightingale Fund. This eventually turned into the Nightingale Training School for Nurses that opened in 1860. Florence became very ill, and couldn't travel to different places. Florence sadly passed on August 13, 1910 at the age of 90.