National Black Nurses Association

The National Black Nurses Association was founded in 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio.

History

It was proposed by Betty Smith Williams and passed unanimously by all present. The founding members of the National Black Nurses Association were Dr. Lauranne Sams, Betty Jo Davidson, Gertrude Baker, Barbara Garner, Dr. Mary Harper, Mattiedna Kelly, Phyllis Jenkins, Florrie Jefferson, Judy Jourdain, Geneva Norman, Betty Smith Williams, Ethelrine Shaw, Anita Small, Doris A. Wilson, and Gloria Rookard. The goal of the NBNA was to improve the health status of black people in the United States and to open positions of nursing education and nursing leadership positions for African Americans. The official mission statement of the National Black Nurses Association was to provide a forum for collective action by black nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the health care needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to health care, equal to, or above health care standards of the larger society. The National Black Nurses Association is currently the only professional African American nursing association.

The founding members of the NBNA proposed to make strides by building consumer knowledge, and continuing education for registered nurses, nursing students, and retired nurses. The current president of NBNA is Bettye-Davis Lewis. The first and second vice presidents, respectively, are Debra Toney and Eric Williams. Deidre Walton is the current secretary. Patricia McManus is the treasurer.

The National Black Nurses Association currently has educational programs and preventional measures related to heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, women’s health, drug abuse, depression, and violence. Being a member of the NBNA has many benefits, including: a subscription to NBNA News, a subscription to Journal of the National Black Nurses Association, a quarterly subscription to Minority Nurse, access to the NBNA Scholarship and Awards program, continuing education programs, and inclusion in the National Conferences.

External links

• Aetna: 2003 African American History Calendar. (2003). Retrieved March 5, 2007 from * http://www.aetna.com/diversity/aahcalendar/2003/perspective.html.
• Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington. (2005). Retrieved March 8, 2007 from * www.bnaofgwdca.org/history.html.
• National Black Nurses Association. (2007). Retrieved March 3, 2007 from * http://www.nbna.org/index.htm.
• National Black Nurses Association Day. (2006). Retrieved March 6, 2007 from * http://www.tampagov.net/dept_mayor/proclamations_and_special_recognitions/files/20070202_National_Black_Nurses_Association_Day.pdf.