That same year she met Henry Nicholson, whom she was in a relationship for six years, but when he finally proposed, she refused his proposal. Once again she was overwhelmed and upset over the fact that she still did not know what God's call for her was. Her quietness and agony worried her mother, who just couldn't comprehend why her beautiful, smart daughter was not married yet, living the life she had once dreamed for both of her daughters (Nelson, Roxanne).
In 1842, Florence met Richard Monckton Milnes, a potential suitor. Milnes just seemed so perfect, and could very much be the one since he was a Member of Parliament, a linguist, and a social reformer. Unfortunately, Richard just was not what Florence desired or needed. That same year she heard about the work being done with the training of nurses in hospital work at the institute of Deaconesses in Kaiserwerth, Germany. For two years she kept this idea of nurse training in Germany to herself. Finally, one day, after gathering all the courage and strength inside of her, Florence let everyone know of her desire of practicing nursing. Her family, especially her mother rejected the idea, which is why she suffered so much for the next six years (Bradley, Michael J). .
Nightingale believed that God had called her again, yet since she was unable to follow his calling, she thought she was unworthy. At that time, the best she could do was nurse her sick relatives, friends, and villagers. By 1847, Florence had been working so much helping others in sickness that she, herself, was going into a state of sickness. She started having migraines, chronic coughing, and neared a breakdown. In hopes of regaining her health and her spiritual life back, Florence traveled to Rome, Italy. There, she met Sidney Herbert and his wife Liz. Sidney's friendship with Florence was a big turning point in her life. After meeting Sidney, she soon rejected her long-waiting suitor Richard Milnes, much to her family's dismay.
