The Caresfield Cares Program celebrates Black History Month and American Heart Month in February. We want to honor Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first professionally trained black nurse in the U.S. In an era of limited professional opportunities for women and intense racism against people of color, Mahoney broke down barriers in nursing.
Mahoney graduated from the first professional nursing program in the country at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in 1879. For context, that is the same year Thomas Edison first tested the electric light bulb and 40 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.
A few years later, Mahoney joined the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada. The organization would eventually become the American Nursing Association1. In 1908 Mahoney helped form the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. The organization created the Mary Mahoney Award in 1936, presented biennially for significant contributions to the opening and advancement of equal opportunities in nursing for minority members2.
Shared Values
Mahoney consistently demonstrated values that align with Caresfield’s. As we recognize Black History Month, we celebrate Mahoney’s dedication to nursing, her commitment to patient care and her integrity to push beyond social standards of the day.
Learn More About Mary Eliza Mahoney
As a trailblazer, there are many places to learn more about Mary Eliza Mahoney online:
- Obituary in New York Times
- American Association for History of Nursing recap of the memorial erected at Mahoney’s grave
- Profile on Nursing Theory
- Historical Information on the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
About Caresfield Cares
Caresfield is driven by five core values, including a commitment to caring. The Caresfield Cares program is a monthly initiative to make a positive impact in the communities we serve. Check out our 2023 Caresfield Cares schedule.
Sources
- “The History of the American Nurses Association,” American Nurses Assocation, https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/history/, accessed Feb. 15, 2023.
- Kays, Heather, “Breaking Barriers: A History of Mary Eliza Mahoney”, American Assocation of Nurse Practitioners, https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/breaking-barriers-a-history-of-mary-eliza-mahoney, accessed Feb. 15,2023.
