The influential figure in the development of modern nursing was Florence Nightingale. She is often referred to as the founder of modern nursing due to her contributions during the Crimean War, where she organized care for wounded soldiers and significantly improved hygiene standards in military hospitals. Nightingale established the importance of nursing education and worked tirelessly to elevate the profession's status. She also developed methods for statistical analysis in healthcare, paving the way for evidence-based practices. Her legacy endures through nursing schools and the Nightingale Pledge, which stresses ethics and dedication within the nursing profession.