NR 393 Week 4 Discussion: Impact of 19th Century Nurses (Graded)

Hello Class,

This week’s discussion post we are to select a 19th century nurse other than Nightingale and describe this person’s contributions to nursing leadership and care. I have selected Theodore Fliedner, who was a Luther pastor in the 1830s, and according to Judd (2013) “revitalized the role of nurse deaconess in his hometown of Kaiserworth, Germany” (p. 89). During his travels as a minister, Theodore Fliedner found that a class of people were neglected of vital services, this class of people were the sick, poor, and unwanted individuals of society (Judd, 2013, p. 89). Finding influence from the Quakers and Mennonites, Fliedner established a Deaconess home and hospital (Judd, 2013, p.89).

At the Deaconess home, nurses including Nightingale were trained and provided care to the less fortunate (Judd, 2013, p. 89). Fliedner went on to found other Deaconess homes around the world. According to Theodora.com (2020), Fliedner also established Deaconess homes in Jerusalem, Constantinople, and the United States. As I mentioned, Nightingale was influenced by Fliedner’s work with the less fortunate, and utilized what she learned from the Deaconess homes into her own practice and teaching. As a male nurse it is interesting to find a male nurse in history. I always considered males in the nursing role to be relatively new to the 20th and 21st centuries. I enjoyed reading about Fliedner’s contributions to nursing leadership and nursing care today. I find many hospitals that utilize the term Deaconess, such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. I wonder now if medical centers like BIDMC have history with Deaconess homes of Fliedner.

Purpose:

The purpose of this discussion is for learners to explore the contributions of one 19th century nurse related to leadership and/or provision of care.

Course Outcomes:

This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcome:

CO1: Describe persons and events in nursing history from the early years through the 19th century related to leadership and provision of care. (PO2)

Due Date:

Answer post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM MT in Week 4
Two replies to classmates and/or instructor due by Sunday 11:59 PM MT at the end of Week 4

Points Possible:

50 points

Directions:

Discussions are designed to promote dialogue between faculty and students, and students and their peers. In discussions students:

Demonstrate understanding of concepts for the week
Integrate scholarly resources
Engage in meaningful dialogue with classmates

Express opinions clearly and logically, in a professional manner

Use the rubric on this page as you compose your answers.

Discussion

Important nurses of the 19th century are often overshadowed by Nightingale’s prominence. Select one 19th century nurse other than Nightingale and describe this person’s contributions to leadership and/or nursing care. We look forward to reading about the nurse you select!

Grading:

To view the grading criteria/rubric, please click on the 3 dots in the box at the end of the solid gray bar above the discussion board title and then Show Rubric.

Welcome to week 4 discussion

Hello class,

You may find this week’s discussion a little challenging. The name Florence Nightingale is synonymous with nursing. There are so many other nurses that deserve recognition  for their contribution to the profession. Even in the 19th century, some of those prominent nurses made impacts in the political environment, founded healthcare organizations, and were staunch advocates for women’s rights as the healthcare arena began to change. These are only a few of their accomplishments. I am looking forward to hearing about a variety of nurses and their attributes that have helped form nursing as we know it.  

Week 4 Discussion:  Impact of 19th Century Nurses

I have selected Mary Mahoney.  This is a new name to me in nursing history.  It was very interesting to read about her and her accomplishments in the article, Eyes on the Prize.  Mary Mahoney exhibited her leadership abilities before becoming a nurse, as well as after, by attending nursing school, which was usually attended by white females, and with becoming the first African American nursing graduate to obtain a nursing license.  She also fought for women’s equality for women of all races.  Mary had goals during her life, and she worked to achieve those goals.  Mary Mahoney was an inspiration in the nursing field so much that, “The Mary Mahoney Award, which is given every two years, recognizes individual nurses or groups of nurses who have made outstanding contributions to opening and advancing opportunities in nursing to members of minority groups” (Wessling, 2006).

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In demonstrating her leadership abilities, Mary Mahoney helped opened the door for other African American women to attend nursing school by helping them get enrolled in the same school she went to, the New England Hospital for Women and Children.  She formed the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN), because of nursing education inequalities between white and black students.  Mary Mahoney also was a director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children.  (The Chronicle of Nursing, 2008). 

But Mary Mahoney did not stop there.  She did private duty nursing for thirty years with many patients.  She treated her patients like family, and the patients were happy with her nursing care.  Mahoney was so well received, that families from all over the country were requesting her for her nursing care.

Besides nursing, Mary Mahoney fought for women’s rights.  She supported the right to vote and was one of the first women to register to vote.

I enjoyed learning some about Mary Mahoney.  She opened the path for black women in nursing and stood up for what she believed in.  All she wanted was fairness, treated as equally as white women in nursing, treated equally as a person, and the same opportunities.  Well, Mary showed them!  She leaves a legacy.  She proved herself in leadership roles and with her nursing care.  Mary Mahoney left such a good impression on her patients and the families, that others were requesting her to be their nurse.  This is a nursing value that Mary left behind for other nurses to live up to.

References

The Chronicle of Nursing.  (February 1, 2008).  Mary Eliza Mahoney.  American Society of Registered Nurses.  Retrieved from https://www.asrn.org/journal-chronicle-nursing/282-mary-eliza-mahoney.htmlLinks to an external site.

Wessling, S.  (2006).  Eyes on the prize.  Minority Nurse. Nurse Mahoney is always a popular selection and she always gives me a moment for pause.  As a woman of color, she faced many challenges in achieving her nursing education. Unfortunately, according to the minority report, there is still a large discrepancy in ethnicity and race in the nursing field.

Why do you feel those same challenges that Mary worked to overcome a century ago continues to be present as noted with a lack of diversity in nursing? how do you perceive this has affected patient care? 

I think some people that are from ethnic and racial diverse backgrounds also face economic, social, and environmental challenges.  Therefore, they may feel that becoming a nurse is not possible.  They may not know about financial assistance, they may not think that they have a chance at being a nurse as most others in the same race and ethnicity are not nurses, and perhaps they are not close to a school or have a way to get to a school.  They may also feel that they have no chance of getting admitted to a school due to their race or ethnicity.  Unfortunately, racism does still exist in America, and they may feel that nurses are white men and women, and that they would be chosen over them for entry into a nursing school. 

This may not even be a factor, but they may feel that way anyway.  There is not that much advertising for nursing school, and I think there should be more as they say we are entering another nursing shortage, perhaps more advertising showing diversity and financial assistance should be done.  It is said if you want something bad enough you will find a way, but people need the information also.  Mary Mahoney had the perserverance to go for what she wanted.  Patient care is affected in that people of the same race know about their own culture and can relate better with the patient, and may make them feel more comfortable with their patient care.

A diverse workforce will be prepared to care for a diverse patient population. Our efforts need to be focused on creating an environment that will encourage and support minorities in continuing their education to become healthcare professionals. As a profession we need to continue efforts that endorses cultural competencies as part of our nursing practice. 

I am a minority nurse and this conversation came up a week ago as I interviewed one of the nurse managers who are a minority. And asked why more minority nurses are not represented equally in so many areas. One thing I’ve come to realize is that minority nurses are not given the opportunity or informed of the avenues for growth.  When I say that let me explain or give an example. This institution had a lock of nurses in the swat unit. Now one of the qualifications is being an ICU nurse.

This nurse was then the manager of the float pool which staff the entire hospital. She realized that a vast number of her staff were minorities and many of them were ICU nurses. She approached them and told them about the vacancy and that they met the qualification. They were also informed of other certifications they would need. This information was brought to the nurse leader and scheduling accommodations were made. The lack of representation at the bedside does affect patient outcomes.

For example, I took my father to an appointment and just sat in the room the doctor was nice and respectful. However, like my dad who has no medical training was talking and so was the doctor they were having a conversation about two different things. My father used a layman’s term or a cultural term but means something different to the doctor. so I had to say something. Also, mistrust of patients can lead to negative outcomes. When patients do not see anyone that looks like them they become suspicious. On my unit, I’ve been asked to switch patients because of the situation. Thank you for your excellent reflection and sharing your professional and personal experience. I think the key is we need to start raising awareness so that change can occur.

I see a lot of struggle at my hospital for people of color to advance in their careers. I see some of our techs working and speaking to patients and I wish for them to become a nurse rather than stay at the same pay grade. I see so much potential in so many of them. I think in some cases, the responsibility seems too much or my coworkers enjoy what they do as is. However, in some cases, my coworkers worry to be able to afford school as well as be able to maintain full time status and get through a grueling program.

It’s not an easy task unless you have tons of support. I think we should all make sure that we are actively valuing all of our coworkers for what they bring to the table and always encourage their dreams and help find ways to make it happen. Does that mean we have to fund someone’s career? No. But, sharing scholarship ideas helps and also just telling those coworkers they CAN make it happen and we believe in them makes a difference. 

I do love my diverse crowd at my hospital and unit. We have people from all over and especially when a patient speaks another language, it’s awesome to have nursing staff that speaks that same language to work with the patient. 

I think that patients of all backgrounds mostly enjoy diversity just as much as we want to be a diverse career path! Also, people of the same or similar cultures do enjoy working with people who understand their own faith and cultural values sometimes. This can be comforting to the patient although not necessary to care for people of a particular background, the camaraderie can be really nice. 