3rd February, 2021
Taiwo Okanlawon
This is a time to not only celebrate the diversity of students, alumni and faculty, but also the achievements of African Americans and their role throughout our country’s history, especially nurses.
Let’s recognize 3 famous Black nurses who have changed the nursing profession – and the world – for the better.
1. Estelle Massey Osborne
Few Americans helped to change the face of nursing in the 20th-century more than Estelle Massey Osborne. A nurse administrator, educator, and leader at a time when racial lines prevented most African American women from holding top positions in their fields, she reached some of the highest ranks as she worked tirelessly to open up nursing to women of color.
To be the first at anything is an accomplishment, but to have been, like Osborne, the first in so many arenas is a testament to her vision, fearlessness, and strength of character. In a relatively short span of time, from 1934, when she became the 11th president of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, to 1966, when she left her executive post at the National League for Nursing to retire, she made heroic steps toward eliminating racial barriers and prejudice at the heart of our healthcare system.
“Like those who have contributed to the building of this great nation, Estelle Osborne found a way to educate herself and make a difference in the lives of many when being a woman of color in America meant its own challenges and difficulties,” said Prof. Sandy Cayo, clinical assistant professor at NYU Meyers College and faculty advisor for the Black Student Nurses Association.
Osborne, who was known as “Stelle” to her family, was born in 1901, the eighth of 11 children, in the small town of Palestine, Texas. After two years of college, she entered nursing school in St. Louis, where she developed a passion for bedside care, particularly obstetrics.
At that time, only 14 of the nation’s 1,300 schools for nursing were open to Black applicants.
The American Nursing Association did not accept Black nurses as members, and the US Navy categorically refused to enlist them.
Yet for Osborne racial barriers were only meant to be overcome. She received the first scholarship awarded to a Black nurse by the Julius Rosenwald Fund in 1928. She was accepted to Columbia University, where she became the first Black nurse to receive a Master’s Degree in 1931. All the while, she was teaching at two local nursing schools, including as the first African American instructor at the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing.
Osborne defied a system built on racism to help provide quality healthcare for Black Americans. After she graduated, she went to work for the Rosenwald Fund as a researcher, studying rural life in the deep South and investigating ways to bring better health education and service to rural Black communities.
1934, she took on the presidency of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, which was headquartered in New York City. There, she forged strategic relations with White-exclusive nursing institutions like the American Nurses Association (ANA) and intensely lobbied them to accept Black nurses, particularly those in the South, who were prevented from joining the ANA due to racist membership policies at the state level. She also fostered programs to develop post-nursing school opportunities for nurses of color. When she left the post in 1939, she had increased the association’s membership more than five-fold, from 175 to 947.
McGruder recalls: “She was constantly recruiting nurses for the nurses’ association. Sometimes on Thursday or Friday night she would request that I join her . . . So, I would be carrying forms and documents, and we would meet with typically from 15 to 30 nurses . . . Stelle was always calm, steady and polite, and almost always they signed on the dotted line.”
In 1940, Osborne became the first Black superintendent of nurses at the storied Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, the largest exclusively Black, city-operated general hospital in the world, which served over 70,000 people. She was also the first Black woman director of its nursing school.
With the country at war, Osborne was hired in 1943 as a consultant to the Coordinating Committee on Negro Nursing for the National Council for War Service. That year, Congress passed the Bolton Act in response to the severe shortage of nurses at home and in the military overseas. Nurses could not be trained fast enough. Osborne helped to ensure that Black nurses benefited from the $160 million the bill provided for nursing education and financial aid. Her work also significantly expanded the number of nursing schools that accepted Black students.
Osborne’s influence was also pivotal to convincing the US Navy to lift its color ban in 1945. McGruder revealed that Osborne had had a strategic ally in her efforts, Eleanor Roosevelt.
2. Dr. Bernardine Lacey
In 1994, Dr. Bernardine Lacey was appointed Professor and founding Dean to the School of Nursing at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She remained in that position until June 30, 1999. On July 1, 1999, she was appointed Special Assistant to the President of Western Michigan University. She returned to the Maryland area in 2000 to rejoin her family. Subsequently, she accepted a position as Professor and Chair, Department of Nursing at Prince George’s Community College, Largo, Maryland. She resigned from this position in May 2002, and accepted the position as Executive Director of Children’s National Medical Center, School Health Program.
In August 2004, Dr. Lacey transitioned from the position as Executive Director of Children’s School Services, to accept the position as Chairperson, Department of Nursing at Bowie State University. Her reputation as a nurse and nurse educator is unmatched in the nursing profession. In 1964, in her career at Howard University/Freedman’s Hospital, she advanced from staff nurse to administrative supervisor.
Among her most prestigious honors was her selection as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1990. The Distinguished Alumna in 1993 from Georgetown, University. In addition, her most recent awards include the Legacy of Leadership Award from Howard University. In October 2014, Dr. Lacey was inducted as a “Living Legend” by the American Academy of Nursing. Upon her retirement from Western Michigan University, two generous donors awarded the University 1.5 million to establish an endowed chair in Community Health Nursing.
3. Olubukola Mary Akinpelu
Olubukola Akinpelu, widely recognized as Mylifeassugar, epitomizes the spirit of innovation and commitment in the healthcare sector. Not only is she a seasoned United States Navy Sailor Veteran and Nurse Educator, but she also shines as a nurse coach, guiding many through the complexities of nursing education and practice. Her role as a content creator and the esteemed author of the bestselling ‘The Ultimate Nursing School Study Guide’ underscores her multifaceted influence in the nursing realm.
She is from Lagelu LGA, Ibadan, Oyo state. She had her primary school education at East Gate and secondary at Federal government girls college (FGGC), Oyo State, before proceeding to Lamar University in USA to her degree
Her transition from a fashion and lifestyle influencer to a pivotal figure in nursing education, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked a significant turn in her career. She offered a lifeline to nursing students and professionals navigating the shift to online learning, enriching their educational journey with her insightful and supportive content.
The acclaim for her book is widespread, with numerous students attributing their academic and licensing exam success to her comprehensive study guide. Feedback from her audience highlights the guide’s clarity, its direct impact on their learning outcomes, and its role in demystifying the rigors of nursing education. This sentiment is echoed in the reviews of her coaching, where many express gratitude for her personalized, empowering approach that has influenced their careers profoundly.
Olubukola’s philosophy, encapsulated in her empowering assertion that “Becoming a nurse is easier than you think,” resonates deeply with her audience. This message, imbued with hope and encouragement, has become a rallying cry for those daunted by the challenges of nursing education and practice.
Her impressive digital footprint, with over 750,000 followers across all social media platforms, attests to her broad impact and the trust she has garnered within the nursing community and beyond. These platforms serve not just as educational resources but as spaces for empowerment, community building, and shared growth in the nursing profession.
With a robust academic background from Lamar University and a license from the Texas Board of Nursing, Olubukola’s professional and personal journey is a testament to her dedication to nursing excellence. Her Nigerian heritage and her experiences in various healthcare settings have enriched her perspective, enabling her to connect with and uplift a diverse audience.
Renowned for her pioneering spirit, Olubukola has been honored with several awards, acknowledging her contributions to nursing education and her success in creating a vibrant, supportive community for healthcare professionals. Her story is a beacon of inspiration, showcasing the profound impact of passionate commitment to the nursing profession and the power of education to transform lives.