Mary Eliza Mahoney
After graduating, she left the New England Hospital for Women and Children to do private duty nursing. In 1896, she became a member of the predominately white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States of America and Canada. Because of the prejudice and very few blacks being in this association, she became a cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908. Mary gave the first welcoming address of the organization a year later. In 1911, she was working as director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children in Kings Park, Long Island. That year she was awarded a lifetime membership to the NACGN.
Mary never married. She retired in 1922. She remained a member of the NACGN until her death from breast cancer in 1926. In 1936, the association created an award in her honor. Fifty years after her death, Mary was inducted into the American Nurses's Association's Hall of Fame.
- She was the First African American registered nurse in the United States
- She was one of the original members of a predominately white Nurse Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada
- She was cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
- She was inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame
- In 1878, when she was 31 years old, she was admitted into the hospital's nursing program
- This program was 16 months long and 4 students completed the program
- She was the first African American nurse to graduate
- She helped to establish high standards of practice and character for nurses
- She helped to pave the way for African American Nurses
- More opportunities for formal training for African-America
- NACGN's first conventional welcoming address
- Awarded lifetime membership of the NACGN
Graduate Nurses and Their Role in the Future of Nursing
Education is ongoing in the development of the nursing profession. The development of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of an individual stems from education. Education in nursing must be value focused and provide guidance for future practice (St. Peter's College 2011).
The Graduate Degree in Nursing helps students to acquire the theoretical foundation to acquire the depth of knowledge needed in the expert practice in nursing. Graduate education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired at the baccalaureate level and prepares on for nursing practice in a specialty and for advanced practice nursing (St. Peter's College, 2011).
This type of knowledge is imperative for the nurse to have to be able to continue to improve the nursing profession. The knowledge about the past nurses and their accomplishment is important for the nurse to have. This is needed for them to continue to build and make improvements in the nursing profession (St. Peter's College, 2011).
The field of nursing is wide open for advancement opportunities. The Graduate Degree nurse has every opportunity to create new advancements in the nursing field. The professional nurse is committed to standards of the profession and practice in a variety of settings. The outcome of education provides the nursing profession with individuals that are secure in his/her own identity, have mature values, and a sense of responsibility (St. Peter's College, 2011).
The core of learning is change and the field of nursing is forever changing. Learning provides the opportunity to test ideas, analyze mistakes, take risks and foster creativity. Master prepared nurses plan, direct, design, and evaluate the delivery of health care (St. Peter's College, 2011).
References
Bois, D. (n.d.). Mary Eliza Mahoney. Retrieved June 30,2011 from Mary Eliza Mahoney. (2000). Retrieved June 30,2011 from 30, 2011 http://www.bridgew.edu/HOBA/mahoney.htm St. Peter's College. Philosophy of Nursing Programs, Retreieved June 30, 2011 http://www.spc.edu/pages/1251.asp |