Why did Florence Nightingale describe nursing as a call from God?

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“Lady with the Lamp” — Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale at the Barrack Hospital in Scutari (Üsküdar), writing letters for wounded soldiers of the Crimean War, 1855.

Florence Nightingale, who was raised in a liberal Unitarian household, described her profession as a call from God because she viewed her life’s purpose as the reduction of human suffering.12

Beginning at age 16, she experienced several spiritual "calls" that directed her toward alleviating the pain of others. She ultimately identified nursing as the most suitable path to serve both God and humankind. Despite facing significant opposition from her family, who considered nursing an inappropriate activity for a woman of her social standing, she remained committed to this vocation as a means of fulfilling her spiritual mission.12