Objective:

Understand the influence of Florence Nightingale on care practices in Antioquia (Colombia) during the first half of the 20th century.

Methodology:

It is a comprehensive hermeneutical qualitative inquiry (Wilhem Dilthey), with the historical theoretical support of intentional asynchronous of Reinhart Kosseleck, supported by the criticism of primary and secondary sources.

Results:

Florence Nightingale had important contributions to the leadership of women and the practices of caring for women in Antioquia (Colombia) in the different denominations that were given to the woman caregiver of the time as certified midwife, Gray Ladies of the Red Cross and nurses. The consideration of the Environment and health for the care of people and the best conditions of the institutions was reflected in the construction of a twentieth century hospital. For the third decade of the 20th century, after the arrival of the Red Cross as an international organization, there were several institutions created in Antioquia with the support of religious communities for the benefit of children and women in vulnerable conditions.

Conclusions:

The influence of Nightingale worldwide was notable since the early twentieth century, in Colombia the arrival of the Red Cross with its nursing training favored a level of technical training for women, in the Department of Antioquia as part of Colombia the influence of the bicentennial woman was notorious in the education of women, creating institutions for the benefit of poor children and women with moral and economic difficulties.