Florence Nightingale was a pioneering nurse in the 19th century who is considered the founder of modern nursing. She was born in Italy in 1820 to British parents. Nightingale defied social expectations and became a nurse, working to improve unsanitary conditions in hospitals. In 1854, she led a team of nurses to care for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War, significantly reducing mortality rates through hygiene and nutrition standards. Nightingale went on to establish training schools and standards for nursing that are still used today.