Final answer:
Florence Nightingale authored 'Notes on Nursing,' which greatly contributed to the field of nursing. Her work influenced nursing practices worldwide, including in Canada during significant historical events such as World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who made a significant contribution to nursing by authoring Notes on Nursing was Florence Nightingale.
Although the provided references focus on Canadian nursing history, Florence Nightingale's influence was international and certainly impacted nursing in Canada as well as around the world.
Her foundational work, Notes on Nursing, published in 1859, laid the groundwork for modern nursing and established basic principles that are still in use today.
Nightingale is celebrated for her role in introducing hygienic practices and educating nurses, which significantly improved the quality of care in hospitals, especially during wartime.
Florence Nightingale's contributions go beyond the writing of Notes on Nursing; she is known as the "Lady with the Lamp" for her night rounds to aid the wounded during the Crimean War. Her dedicated work ethic and compassion set an example for nurses everywhere, inspiring many, including those in Canada during critical events like the First World War, as noted in the references provided.