Florence Nightingale was named after her birthplace, Florence, Italy. When she was almost a year old, she returned with her family to England.
Florence often helped her mother deliver food to the poor and sick. Her family was shocked because nursing was not a respected profession.
But Florence was determined. She studied books on medicine. Later, she visited hospitals in France, Germany and Ireland and learned everything she could.
In 1854, Britain was at war with Russia. Florence went to the British hospital in Scutari (now Üsküdar in Istanbul) and she was shocked. The hospital left men lying on the floor, and rats were running everywhere. Many soldiers died before receiving help.
The doctors wouldn't listen to Florence because they didn't like the idea of women in army hospitals — until one day 500 unexpected casualties (伤亡者) arrived. Florence made changes, making sure the men were washed and their injuries were cared for. Every night she would check the patients with her lamp.
When she returned home after the war, a fund had been set up in her honor. Many of the soldiers she had nursed had made contributions. Now she could set up the Nightingale Training School in London.
After years of hard work, Florence Nightingale saw cleaner and more cheerful hospitals. All of this was because of the "lady with the lamp".
A. Nursing became an honored profession.
B. There was no running water and no heat.
C. She knew she had much to learn about nursing.
D. Florence saw the soldiers' health had improved.
E. As she grew older, she decided to become a nurse.
F. They soon realized that Florence knew what she was doing.
G. Upon returning home, she was an expert on hospital management.
