She was sent to a field hospital in Chicamauga, Georgia, where she and her nurses encountered poor sanitation, widespread disease, and a high death rate.

[3] In World War I, she also worked to prepare nurses for active military service, and in 1916 travelled to Europe to visit hospitals at the fronts.

[2] France awarded her the Medaille de l'Hygiene Publique (Medal of Honor for Public Health) in recognition of her work.

[2][3] In addition to her work in education and with the military, Maxwell co-wrote a textbook with Amy E. Pope entitled Practical Nursing.

The hall was razed in 1984 to make room for a new hospital building, and the university established an endowed professorship at the nursing school in Maxwell's name.