Nursing trailblazers offer look at future |
Jenee Meier |
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School of Nursing is inviting everyone to attend an inspirational panel discussion featuring minority nursing leaders. The panel discussion, "Portraits of Success: Minority Nursing Leaders Tell Their Stories," will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Meridian Ballroom of the Morris University Center. Felissa Lashley, professor and dean of the School of Nursing, said panelists will "talk to the audience about their paths to success." The program features nursing leaders of both sexes and African-American, Hispanic and Native American heritage. The panelists include Mary Lou De Leon Siantz, president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses; Oliver Osborne, a male African-American nurse who intended to become a lawyer; Bette Keltner, founding member and treasurer of the National Coalition for Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations; Hazel Johnson-Brown, the first African-American woman general in the history of the U.S. military; and Vernice Ferguson, former president of the American Academy of Nursing and author of "Case Studies in Cultural Diversity - A Workbook." Lashley said the panelists will talk about their contributions to the nursing profession, their views on the future of nursing for their ethnic group and any messages they want to give to future nurses. "This panel arose from the School of Nursing's continuing commitment to our profession and community, and to continuing to celebrate the richness of our diversity," Lashley said. "In these times of a national nursing shortage, we want to emphasize to our community and especially our young people that nursing is a wonderful profession to pursue." Lashley said the panel discussion could benefit anyone who hears these role models speak about their pathways to success and the barriers they've overcome. These stories, Lashley said, will have relevance to everyone's life and career. The panel is free and open to the public. However, Lashley said more than 100 people have already registered and space is limited to the first 800 registrants. The registration deadline is April 11. For registration information or any other additional information, contact Alanna Wehmeyer at the School of Nursing at 650-3969. | |