During the late 1960s and early 1970s, black people were mainly focused on how to improve their quality of life nationwide. This was an era of new hope, assurance, commitment and a new beginning. They came together as one with an optimistic mind to win their rights, power and to voice their pride in their identity. Despite all the trials and tribulations, they continued to fight for what was theirs. Everyone played a vital part in this movement, including the black nurses. Betty Smith Williams was one of the many black nurse leaders that played a significant role in paving the path for the future black nurses. She had dreamt of improving healthcare system for black people. Her primary focus was to promote racial diversity and encourage black
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Growing up, Williams always knew she was going to accomplish all her goals, despite the pre-civil rights era she was brought up in, “Not a common message for a young black woman raised before the civil-rights era. But she believed it, and now looking back on a career in nursing that has spanned more than half a century, she is justifiably proud of her accomplishments against formidable odds” (Hannk). It is incredible to see how determined she has always been despite the struggles they went through. She was raised in a family who were very supportive of her. She was inspired by her mother who taught her the importance of staying actively involved, “her involvement was based on how activism and collectivism can impact change” (Jody). She received her bachelors in zoology from Howard University. Later, she learned about the nursing profession through others and decided to pursue nursing as a career. She received her Master’s in nursing in 1954, making her the first black nurse to wear the cap of Frances Payne Bolton school of Nursing, Case Western University. Soon she became the first ever black person to teach nursing in a university in the entire state of California. She later received her doctorate in public health and soon became the first black Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where she started the first nursing PhD program. …show more content…
Growing up Williams always knew she was going to be an effective that is going to influence other in a positive way and she stood by her word. Her involvement in the community shows how her contributions have indeed had a progressive effect on the ones around her. Her biggest contribution to the nursing profession was the foundation of the National Black Nurses Association. She was the co-founder of the association, along with Barbara Johnson. The main goal of this organization was to promote diversity “…long-lasting impact to expand the diversity of nursing” (Hannk), by including black nurses and other nurses of color work together in the healthcare system to provide better healthcare service to black people. Williams, along with other nurses, wanted to assure that everyone’s health care needs are met. She has made sure that the organization emphasizes mainly on nursing education and practice for the minorities. She strongly believed that as long as people think contrarily, there will always be a problem, “As long as we have separate patterns of living, knowing and understanding, problems will remain” (Hannk). To avoid that, she founded NBNA in hopes of diminishing those problems and opened doors to black nurses and other nurses of color who wanted to pursue their dreams of becoming a nurse. Because of her hard work and involvement, more black
Growing up, Williams always knew she was going to accomplish all her goals, despite the pre-civil rights era she was brought up in, “Not a common message for a young black woman raised before the civil-rights era. But she believed it, and now looking back on a career in nursing that has spanned more than half a century, she is justifiably proud of her accomplishments against formidable odds” (Hannk). It is incredible to see how determined she has always been despite the struggles they went through. She was raised in a family who were very supportive of her. She was inspired by her mother who taught her the importance of staying actively involved, “her involvement was based on how activism and collectivism can impact change” (Jody). She received her bachelors in zoology from Howard University. Later, she learned about the nursing profession through others and decided to pursue nursing as a career. She received her Master’s in nursing in 1954, making her the first black nurse to wear the cap of Frances Payne Bolton school of Nursing, Case Western University. Soon she became the first ever black person to teach nursing in a university in the entire state of California. She later received her doctorate in public health and soon became the first black Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where she started the first nursing PhD program. …show more content…
Growing up Williams always knew she was going to be an effective that is going to influence other in a positive way and she stood by her word. Her involvement in the community shows how her contributions have indeed had a progressive effect on the ones around her. Her biggest contribution to the nursing profession was the foundation of the National Black Nurses Association. She was the co-founder of the association, along with Barbara Johnson. The main goal of this organization was to promote diversity “…long-lasting impact to expand the diversity of nursing” (Hannk), by including black nurses and other nurses of color work together in the healthcare system to provide better healthcare service to black people. Williams, along with other nurses, wanted to assure that everyone’s health care needs are met. She has made sure that the organization emphasizes mainly on nursing education and practice for the minorities. She strongly believed that as long as people think contrarily, there will always be a problem, “As long as we have separate patterns of living, knowing and understanding, problems will remain” (Hannk). To avoid that, she founded NBNA in hopes of diminishing those problems and opened doors to black nurses and other nurses of color who wanted to pursue their dreams of becoming a nurse. Because of her hard work and involvement, more black