She was born in Trondhjem as a daughter of merchant Martinus Nissen (1800–1836) and Ida Susanne Amalie Hagerup (1808–1885).
Her father died when she was only one year old, and she grew up in Romedal after her mother married Severin Henrik Ræder (1800–1878).
[1] Her sister Bolette also moved to attend school in the capital, and underwent a religious awakening in the milieu of Gisle Johnson.
Nissen travelled in Germany to study similar institutions there, and was subsequently hired as a teacher at the Deaconess House in 1870.
The following year she visited a similar institution in Bergen;[1] in 1878 her sister moved to Christiania and was hired at the Deaconess House as well.