When most people consider legendary figures from the healthcare world, they may consider names such as Florence Nightingale, or perhaps a medical doctor from a favorite television show with a strong jawline. That being said, the true legends from the healthcare world are black nursing professionals who have changed the face of medicine by saving countless lives in the field. With this being said, it’s time to recognize 11 legendary black nurses from the past and the present.
11. Ernest J. Grant
Ernest J. Grant truly understands what it means to be in the thick of things. Not only is Grant the first male president of the American Nurses Association, but he is globally recognized in his field of burn medicine. He was even recognized as the “Nurse of the Year” for his service to those affected by the 9/11 tragedy. One thing that Grant is very passionate about is diversity in nursing.
10. Beverly Malone
Growing up in the segregated South, Beverly Malone developed healing skills from her great-grandmother before going on to become a force in the world of nursing. She is currently CEO of the National League for Nursing, former first African American general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, and deputy assistant secretary for health in the U.S. government. Beverly Malone’s entire career in medicine has been dedicated to promoting diversity in nursing.
9. Darlene Clark Hine
If you’ve ever studied Black women’s history, chances are you’ve come across Darlene Clark Hine. A National Humanities Award winner, she’s a leading historian of the African American experience. Her book Black Women in White is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the triumphs and struggles of Black nurses throughout history.
8. Catherine Alicia Georges
An academician, author, and administrator, Catherine Alicia Georges has framed nursing education. Having been the chair of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College, the national volunteer president of AARP, she has touched the lives of a host of nurses and proved that leadership is all about real-life changes it brings about, rather than the titles one gains.
7. Eddie Bernice Johnson
Pivoting from a psychiatric nurse at the Dallas VA Hospital to Congress, Eddie Bernice Johnson became the first registered nurse elected to Congress and later the first Black woman Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, using her platform to champion healthcare and science policy.
6. Hazel Johnson-Brown
Hazel Johnson-Brown broke barriers and annihilated them, too. She was the first African American chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and the first African American female brigadier general. She also headed the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing and was a professor at Georgetown and George Mason University, always emphasizing excellence and refusing to conform.
5. Estelle Massey Osborne
Osborne made history as the first Black nurse in the U.S. to earn a master’s degree and the first Black faculty member at NYU’s College of Nursing. She fought for racial equality in nursing and held leadership roles in both the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses and the ANA.
4. Mabel Keaton Staupers
Staupers grew up in Barbados and understood from a young age that there was a critical need for equality among nursing personnel. She worked passionately towards fighting for the rights of black nursing professionals and providing equal healthcare services for black people. Staupers’ autobiography is titled No Time for Prejudice and describes her pioneering work.
3. Mary Eliza Mahoney
Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a professional nursing license. From working as a janitor and nurse’s aide to breaking barriers in professional nursing, Mahoney championed education and fought discrimination throughout her career.
2. Harriet Tubman
Tubman is famous for being the conductor of the Underground Railroad. However, during the Civil War, Tubman also became a nurse for the Union Army. Later in her life, Tubman founded the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged & Indigent Negroes, taking care of this institution until her death.
1. Mary Seacole
Before the widespread recognition and fame associated with the name Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole was already on the front lines tending to those with cholera in Panama, while the Crimean War was ongoing. She established “The British Hotel” to provide relief to the sick and wounded and was famously known as “Mother Seacole.”
These 11 nurses not only saved lives but also altered the course of history, despite the prejudices and adversity they encountered. This is a strong reminder to today’s nurses of their own capacity to become tomorrow’s legends.