There have been many significant African American Nurses throughout history. Since February is Black History Month, we’d like to take this time to honor a few of the outstanding nurses who have made history with their amazing achievements.
The following are 5 Remarkable African American Nurses to honor this Black History Month:
- Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) — Many know Harriet Tubman for being a courageous conductor of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. In addition, she served as a nurse for the Union Army tending to sick and injured Black soldiers and those newly freed from slavery.
- Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) — Although there were many Black nurses before her, Mahoney was the first to receive a professional nursing license in the US and the first to graduate from an American nursing school. She paved the way for nursing education and fought against discrimination in nursing throughout her career, supporting the creation of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908.
- Susie King Taylor (1848-1912) — Taylor was the first Black Army nurse supporting an all-Black Civil War volunteer infantry regiment. She was unpaid for her services and taught many of the soldiers how to read and write during their off-duty hours. Along with her nursing accomplishment, she was the first Black woman to self-publish the memoirs of her wartime experiences.
- Estelle Massey Osbourne (1901-1981) — While attending Columbia University, Osbourne became the first Black nurse to receive a master’s degree in nursing. She went on to accept a position as an assistant professor at New York University in 1946 and became the University’s first Black faculty member.
- Mary Elizabeth Carnegie (1916-2008) — An advocate for quality education, Carnegie broke down racial barriers in the nursing profession. She was president of the American Academy of Nurses, chaired the American Nurses Association’s Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Committee, and was a mentor for many generations of nurse leaders
ACCESS Nursing Services is committed to improving the health of every individual regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, beliefs, sexual identity, sexual orientation, etc.
For information about ACCESS Nursing Services, contact: www.accessnursing.com.
About ACCESS Nursing Services
ACCESS Nursing Services, founded in 1985, is a leading regional provider of healthcare personnel to individual patients, as well as prestigious healthcare systems throughout New York and New Jersey. With more than 2,000 private duty nurses; RNs, LPNs, Aides, and caregivers in five city-center offices and seven hospital-based offices, ACCESS Nursing also offers a top-level Private Duty Nursing care in the hospital that can transition with you back home. For more information, www.accessnursing.com.