Garrett Wang always disliked that Harry was never promoted beyond Ensign, despite several requests. He has stated that his character was not given the opportunity to grow as others were. This episode finally gave Harry a taste of command, if only briefly.
This episode was directed by LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Harry names his ship after Florence Nightingale, who reformed the profession of nursing during Britain's invasion of the Crimea in the 1850s.
The Nightingale is a reuse of a Federation Peregrine class attack fighter. The fighter is often shown in use as a Maquis Raider, including the ship captained by Chakotay.
After The 37's (1995), Basics, Part I (1996), Demon (1998) and Dragon's Teeth (1999), this is the fifth and final episode in which Voyager lands on the surface of a planet.