...Biography of Mary Eliza Mahoney Abstract Mary Eliza Mahoney is recognized for being the first African-American woman in the world of nursing. With her dedication and great care she was able to open doors for many other women who wanted to share her dream of becoming a nurse. Early Years Throughout history women have often struggled to be heard and make a difference in the world. While there have been many women that have made a very meaningful contribution to the world of nursing, there is a particular woman that has been recognized by society not only for overcoming the many barriers she faced and becoming the first African-American nurse, but also for her several contributions to the world of nursing. With dedication and love for the profession Mrs. Mahoney was able to realize her long and personal dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. She was born in Massachusetts on May 7, 1845. Although she had been working for many years as a cook, janitor, washerwoman and unofficial nurses assistant, with her determination she was able to attend the very rigorous nursing program in New England Hospital. While the 18 month program was difficult and very competitive she was able to become not only one among the only three that graduated from the program, but the first African-American to become a Registered Nurse. As it was very common in that era after graduation, Mrs. Mahoney became a...
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...challenges/difficulties early nurses faced and what was done so todays nurses do not face those same obstacles. I used Machiavelli’s quote because I feel today’s nurses are “animated by the same passions” (Machiavelli) as our predecessors. The first trend would be the transition of the nursing profession from a job only military, lay religious orders and undesirables fulfilled, with little or subsidized pay, to the highly recognized and desired profession it is today. Thanks to hard work of woman like Florence Nightingale and so many of the early nurses listed in The Nursing Timeline of Historical Events. “Every woman is a nurse” (Nightingale 1959 pg. 8) The second trend I feel has an impact on me as an African American nurse. Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first black American professional nurse and pioneer, paved the way for future African American nurses. Mary Mahoney and Mabel Keaton Staupers along with the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses fought to end segregation and restricted membership of African American nurses to state and national nurses association. The NACGN fought for almost 50 years to end the social, economic, and professional injuries inflicted on African-American graduate nurses (Staupers, 1951). The third trend would be Mildred Montag’s introduction of the Associates Degree Nurse. This transformed nursing education then and now. Her vision to implement different levels of nursing to fill need for nurses during the nursing shortage...
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...Today, I will be giving you information about the first African American nurse; her name is Mary Eliza Mahoney. Mary was in the medical field that’s what made her important to a lot of black people that couldn’t be able to do or even be a nurse anything of that nature. She is important to black history because she was the first African American get her degree in nursing field she had attended in Memorial health center in Oklahoma City and also Indiana University Northwest, was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 1976 and to the National Women’s Hall of Fame and she also co-founded of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses that is changing half of the paths for many black women as change. She also was a civil...
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