help with subject verb agreement in this sentence?

My brain is apparently not working today, so please help me with the subject verb agreement in this sentence that my daughter is writing for her written narration:

“Florence Nightingale, along with 40 other nurses, was sent to the Crimean War.”

I believe this is correct because Florence Nightingale is singular, “along with 40 other nurses” is a phrase that could easily be removed.

Now, if she had written “Florence Nightingale and 40 other nurses were sent to the Crimean War”, then that would be correct because Florence and the nurses are the plural subject, therefore requiring a plural “were”.

Am I correct?  Or did I talk myself into a confused circle?  Grammar always has me second-guessing myself…

Thanks!

-Tanya