What significant change did Florence Nightingale implement during the Crimean War?

Florence Nightingale is renowned for her pioneering work in nursing, particularly during the Crimean War, where she significantly improved sanitary conditions in military hospitals. Her meticulous research and data collection on the unsanitary conditions faced by soldiers highlighted the critical impact of hygiene on health outcomes. By implementing strict hygiene protocols, such as improving ventilation, nutrition, and sanitation practices, she dramatically reduced the mortality rate in the hospitals she managed.

This transformation laid the foundation for modern nursing and public health standards. Nightingale’s emphasis on evidence-based practices and the importance of sanitation in healthcare settings continues to influence nursing practices today, showcasing her lasting impact on the profession.

The other options, while relevant to nursing in different contexts, do not accurately reflect Nightingale's primary contributions during the Crimean War. For example, expanding the role of men in nursing or establishing new surgical practices were not focal points of her work at that time. Likewise, the transition to online nursing education occurred much later and cannot be attributed to her efforts.