DNP 840 Identify a nurse who serves on a state, regional, or national board, within or outside of health care
I would like to discuss Dr. Lauren Sams. In 1971, Dr. Lauranne Sams organized the National Black Nurses Association and subsequently became its first President. The National Black Nurses Association was organized to help African American nurses. The NBNA is active lobbying for equal rights and pay for all nurses, providing training opportunities and working government and other nursing organizations to improve and change the nursing profession. Dr. Sams spent 16 years as a teacher. While there she was actively involved in recruitment and retention of minority nursing students. Since leaving the university, the Davis-Sams Distinguished Visiting Professorship was established in 1999. This provides an opportunity for a distinguished leader in nursing to spend a week consulting with faculty, lecturing to students, engaging with the larger community, and like activities. The award was named to honor Anna Mitchem-Davis as the first African American graduate of Indiana School of Nursing and Dr. Lauranne Sams, the first African American faculty member hired in 1958. Both of these women were nursing leaders, helping to open doors for minorities in the nursing field. There is now a scholarship in her name providing funding for nursing student’s to continue their education sponsored by the National Black Nursing Association. This scholarship provides funding for continuing education. An applicant must be currently enrolled in a nursing program (BSN, AD, Diploma, or LPN/LVN), in good scholastic standing, be a member of NBNA and of a local chapter (if one exists in his or her area), and have at least one full year of school remaining. This specific award is given to a student nurse based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and community service. The amount of the scholarship is $1,000, but the number of scholarships awarded each year varies dependent upon the amount of funds received at the Ecumenical Service held during the Annual Conference. After retiring, Dr. Sams continued to pursue her post-doctoral studies.
In 1998, the National Black Nurses Association became one of the five founding organizations of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, along with Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association, Inc., National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association, Inc.; National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Inc.; and, the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. This collaboration gives voice to over one million nurses of color. Dr. Betty Smith Williams was the first NCEMNA president and a past NBNA president. The current NCEMNA president is Dr. Debra A. Toney and a past NBNA president. Its goals include support for the development of a cadre of ethnic nurses reflecting the nation’s diversity; advocacy for culturally competent, accessible and affordable health care; promotion of the professional and educational advancement of ethnic nurses; education of consumers, health care professionals and policy makers on health issues of ethnic minority populations; development of ethnic minority nurse leaders in areas of health policy, practice, education and research; endorsement of best practice models of nursing practice, education, and research for minority populations. There is an application process that allows qualified candidates to apply for the board, applications must be members of the association to be considered for the board and be active in their field.
National Black Nurses Associations. Who we are. NBNA.org
Montgomery, Tiffany M., (2021). “Black Americans in nursing education: Reflecting on the past and looking toward the future.” American Nurse Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, Feb. 2021, pp. 22+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654337791/AONE?u=anon~effe2e71&sid=googleScholar&xid=9c712ee4. Accessed 3 Apr. 2023.
