Careers in Nursing

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A few weeks ago, I touched the lives of 5000 people. Speaking to an audience of five hundred, made up of nurses, physicians, lawyers, teachers, students, ministers, FBI agents, and consumers, I challenged each of them to spread the word about the importance of health care and the need to improve our societal infrastructure upon which the healthcare delivery system is built. Each of those people will interact with at least 10 others. They will talk about health as part of our everyday life and the important contributions of nurses.

The occasion was the 14th Annual Salute to a Black Nurse presented by the Greater Washington, DC Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. It was the culmination of a very busy week in which many nurses demonstrated their knowledge, competence, and compassion.

Two days later, nurse researchers with doctorates met with community nurse leaders to develop concept papers addressing critical problems in the African-American community …