Final answer:
The 'Lady with the Lamp' refers to Florence Nightingale, who made significant contributions to the nursing profession during the Crimean War and beyond, establishing the foundation for modern nursing practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The “Lady with the Lamp” famously refers to Florence Nightingale, a pivotal figure in the history of nursing. Known for her groundbreaking work in the field during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale significantly improved the sanitary conditions of the military hospital, which led to lower death rates among the soldiers. She earned her nickname for her habit of making rounds at night to care for wounded soldiers by the light of a lamp.
Her contributions did not stop at bedside care; Nightingale also laid the foundation for professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. Her efforts in nursing education and hospital reform have made her an iconic figure in medical history and a role model for nurses worldwide. Literature such as 'Canada's Nursing Sisters' and 'Agnes Warner and the Nursing Sisters of the Great War give us deeper insights into the legacy left by Nightingale and how it influenced the role of nurses in the subsequent wars.