NAHN – The National Association of Hispanic Nurses
NAHN is an association of Latino nurses, which was founded in 1975 by Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde. Murillo-Rohde was an active member of the American Nurse Association at the time, but she was concerned that the organization did not adequately serve the needs of Latino nurses. She aimed to help Latinas obtain an education and get a job in the nursing field.
Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
Founded in 1970, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) is dedicated to improving healthcare for Hispanics. The organization has been recognized by the American Academy of Nursing as a Living Legend. In 2010 NAHN established a scholarship in Murillo-Rohde’s name for Hispanic nursing students.
Murillo-Rohde, a pioneering nurse, was born in Panama but grew up in the US. She focused on improving the lives of Hispanic nurses and advised policy makers on issues affecting Hispanic communities. She was also a writer and advocate for mental health.
Murillo-Rohde was instrumental in establishing the NAHN. After earning her doctorate at New York University, she served as the first Hispanic dean of nursing. She also served as the first president of the association. She also worked as a psychiatric nurse and promoted cultural awareness. Her Doodle was illustrated by Loris Lora, a Latinx illustrator based in Los Angeles.
Murillo-Rohde founded NAHN in 1975 and was a member of the American Nurses Association. She also helped establish the Spanish-Speaking/Spanish Surname Nurses’ Caucus. The organization’s first president, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, was honored by the ANA in 1994 as a Living Legend.
Dr. Rohde
The NAHN was founded in 1975 by Dr. Rohde. Her background as a nurse and her role in establishing it was significant. As a nurse of Hispanic descent, she anticipated that minorities would be underrepresented in clinical neighborhoods. To address this issue, she was instrumental in creating the organization. She was also a member of the American Nurses Association. Her motivation for creating the association was to provide resources for Latina nurses and help them become self-sufficient.
She has been an expert in psychiatry, marriage, and family therapy and served as a Dean of the State University of New York School of Nursing. She also served as a permanent UNICEF representative and was a WHO psychiatric consultant to the government of Guatemala. She died at age 89 in Panama.
NAHN’s mission is to improve the quality of health care for the Hispanic community. She was awarded the Living Legend Award in 1994 by the American Academy of Nursing. This award is given to exceptional women in the nursing field. The award is intended to recognize their contributions to healthcare.
Dr. Martinez
NAHN is the national association of Hispanic nurses, founded in 1979. The organization holds an annual conference where hundreds of nurses from diverse communities come together to discuss current issues and best practices. The conference is also a time for nurse researchers, nurse educators, nursing students, and recruiters to share their work. Members of NAHN also volunteer in the community. For example, during the 2015 conference, members organized a rally to serve more than 10,000 meals at food pantries across the country.
Before launching her organization, Dr. Martinez served in the US Army, where she supervised the delivery of health care for servicemen and women in the field. The experience cultivated her passion for nursing, and she went on to earn her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in nursing and family practice. Her scholarly research focused on suicide prevention. She also enjoys volunteering for school-related events.
Since founding NAHN, Dr. Martinez has served on numerous boards, including the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence. She is also a member of the Colorado Health Care Nurse Physician Advisory Task Force. In addition, she serves on the Public Safety Commission of Castle Rock, Colorado, and is involved in volunteer work with the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center.
Dr. Kneusel
Dr. Kneusel was first elected as president of the American Nurses Association in 1982. She served in a variety of board positions and is currently assigned as the administrator of the Church of the Holy Spirit in San Luis, R.C. Sonora, Mexico. She is also involved in community affairs and is an active volunteer with NAHN. Her personal and professional interests include the provision of dignified care to underserved populations and quality improvement in the health care field.
The NAHN has been working to improve the lives of Hispanic nurses for over thirty years. In fact, NAHN developed a scholarship in her name for Hispanic nursing students. As a result of her hard work, NAHN has helped hundreds of Hispanic nurses improve their quality of life.
NAHN is dedicated to improving health care for Hispanic communities and promoting educational and professional opportunities for Latino nurses. The organization provides a platform for nurses to analyze the health care needs of Hispanic consumers and recommend appropriate solutions to local health agencies. It also develops and promotes culturally sensitive models of intervention and research. Finally, it disseminates its findings to policymakers.
