Inside THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LOUISIANA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION Vol. 64 • No. 1 Circulation 64,000 to all Registered & Licensed Practical Nurses in Louisiana March 2008 Claire P. Millet, APRN, MN Public Health Chief Nurse Page 5 Hall of Fame Dr. Rhetaugh Graves Dumas Doris Brown Rhetaugh Dumas practiced as Neither words nor short a registered nurse for 50 years, narratives can do justice to from 1951 to 2001. She received the accomplishments of Doris her baccalaureate in nursing from Brown and the ways in which Dillard University in 1951. In her professional practice and 1960, she earned a masters degree personal service have touched the in psychiatric nursing from citizens of Louisiana. She began Tom Willmott Yale University and in 1975, she her nursing career as a staff Nurse Elected to Louisiana completed requirements for her nurse and her leadership abilities Legislature doctorate from Union Institute in surfaced early on. She moved Page 12 Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Rhetaugh to positions as Charge Nurse on Doris Brown She had a lifelong commitment Graves Dumas surgical and oncology units, after to nursing and worked diligently in which, she began a long and dedicated career in Public Health a variety of roles to advance the profession in state, national, Nursing and children’s services in Louisiana. Vacancies on LA State and international arenas. After completing her undergraduate As her career became focused, she sought academic degree from Dillard University, she returned and taught there preparation to prepare herself for taking on greater leadership Board of Nursing from 1957 to 1961 and after receiving her masters in nursing roles. In addition to her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, in Page 12 from Yale University, she joined the faculty and rose to the 1975—from northeast Louisiana State University, she earned rank of associate professor and Department Chair. a Masters in Education from Southern University (1984) In 1972, she moved to the National Institute of Mental and a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University Of Health and became the first woman, the first nurse and the Southern Mississippi School Of Nursing in 1990. She is Link to the Legislature first African American to be appointed to the position of Certified in Community Health Nursing by the American April 7, 2008 deputy director. She was the first person in any field to design Nurses Association and licensed as an Advanced Practice Page 15 and conduct clinical trials in nursing. Over 40 years ago, she Nurse. established the precedent for the conduct of nursing studies Her career in public health began over 28 years ago and that mirrored the definition of “clinical trials.” her roles there have been many—staff nurse, supervisor, In 1981, she joined the University of Michigan School consultant, educator and administrator. In her position as Chief of Nursing at Ann Arbor as Dean of the School of Nursing, Nursing Officer within the Office of Public Health she was Promise of Nursing the first African American to assume this role. Under her involved in the research and implementation of preventative Grant Recipients stewardship, the School advanced to a position of prominence health services for the children and adults of Louisiana. She Page 18 as one of the top four schools in the country. functioned at state, regional and national levels, working In 1994, Dr. Dumas was named Vice Provost for Health closely with the Department of Health and Human Services, Affairs and the Lucille Cole Professor of Nursing at the the Centers for Disease control, Homeland Security, the University of Michigan. This was another first! She received American Red Cross and many others. Inside this issue . honorary doctoral degrees from 10 Universities! In her current position as Public Health Executive Director Dr. Dumas was a founding member and former president of for Community Preparedness, she provides oversight for President’s Message . 3 the American Academy of Nursing. In 1996, President Clinton programs related to: Emergency Preparedness and Response, Message from the Executive Director . 4 appointed her to the National Bioethics Advisory Commission the Louisiana Emergency Response Network, Medical Social A View from Inside the Doors . 7 which protected the rights and welfare of human research Hall of Fame cont. on pg. 2 Seventh Annual Nightingale Awards . 8 subjects. She was president of the National League for Nursing, Meet Your Board Members. .11 a member of the Institute of Medicine and the National LSNA’s Treasures Honored . 12 Academy of Sciences. Two endowed chairs, at Yale Presort Standard LANO Update . 13 US Postage University and the University of Michigan carry her PAID Call for LANPAC Leaders . 13 name. If You are a Working Nurse, How Do You Find Permit #14 In her published writings, of which there are many, Princeton, MN Time to Get a College Degree? . .18 55371 she wrote, “I was imbued with the idea that when How Forensic Knowledge Can Help Prevent Future Violence . .19 I grew up, I was going to be a nurse, … I would be Call for Abstracts . .19 known not only for my personal achievements, but Continuing Nursing Education Programs . .19 more important for my ability to help others to improve District News. 20 the conditions of their lives and livelihood.” NODNA Times . .21 On July 22, 2007 Dr. Rhetaugh Dumas died at 78 years of age. She blazed an incredible trail in nursing and health care. • Page 2 • PeLICaN NeWS MaRCH, aPRIL, May 2008 Hall of Fame from pg. 1 Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana, she immediately began her pursuit and lifelong journey as a nurse. In 1951, she worked Louisiana State Services, Community Outreach, Emergency Systems for as a private duty nurse while her husband was in the military Nurses Association Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals and, and throughout her career she has functioned effectively in a Board of Directors President . PATRICIA LA BROSSE Workforce Development. variety of roles. President-Elect . DENISE DANNA Vice President . MAXINE JOHNSON During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she was designated In 1986 she completed the requirements for Certification Secretary . .JONI NICKENS a member of the Unified Command Staff for the Department as a Nursing Administrator by the American Nurses Treasurer . .BARBARA MOFFETT of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, in the Credentialing Center—being the first RN at Lafayette General Chairs of Committees and Councils Resolutions and Bylaws . NORLYN HYDE preparation, response and recovery efforts. Medical Center to fulfill these requirements. She would Health Policy . JOYCE MILLER She is a member of the: American Nurses Association, need those administrative skills as she assumed a variety of Membership . .KEELEY DUPUY Workplace Advocacy . GORDON NATAL Louisiana State Nurses Association, American Public Health roles at Lafayette General Medical Center, including head Clinical Practice Council . RAMONA GUIN Association, Lambda Pi Alpha Professional Nursing Sorority, nurse, Director of Nursing Quality Assurance, Director of Education Council . CYNTHIA PRESTHOLDT Leadership/Management Council . MELISSA STEWART Sigma Theta Tau and, National Association of Health Services Housekeeping, & Linen Services and then, Director—Plant Research/Informatics Council . .EVELYN WILLS Executives. Facilities, Maintenance, Clinical Engineering, Construction, Immediate Past President . MARILYN SULLIVAN Her Honors include: Robert Wood Johnson Executive Housekeeping and Linen. According to information received District Presidents Alexandria . JUDY KREIDEWEIS Nurse Fellow, Member of the Year, Louisiana Public Health from the Vice-President for Support Services, Celina had that Baton Rouge . .JACKIE HILL Bayou . KIM BRANNAGAN Association, LSNA Nursing Administrator of the Year rare combination of nursing expertise and management skills Feliciana. JANICE BONNER-DAVIS Nominee, 24K Woman of the Year, March of Dimes, Inductee, necessary to take a malfunctioning department and turn it Northshore . BARBARA HUETE Lafayette . MICHELLE CRAIN Southern University school of Nursing Honor Society and, around into a quality unit.” In her various positions, she was Lake Charles . .ANETHA CRAFT Quatrum Leader Nurse of the Year, Louisiana Department of an excellent role model and led by example, setting goals of Monroe . .EMILY DOUGHTY New Orleans . BERNADINE MILTON Health and Hospitals excellence for her staff and herself. She always shared the Ruston . NANCY DARLAND Shreveport . SHIRLEY CASHIO She has made numerous presentations and participated in knowledge needed for others to grow in their profession. Tangipahoa . ANN CARRUTH many additional activities to advance initiatives designed to She has been active in nursing organizations at the district, Executive Director improve the health of children, teens and adults in Louisiana state and national level—being a member of the American Dr. Joe Ann Clark LSNA Staff and the nation. Nurses Association and the Louisiana State Nurses Association CAROL CAIRO, PROGRAM, 225-201-0994, [email protected] In addition to all of the above, Doris has found time to be since 1962! She has served on a variety of committees at the PAIGE ASAY office manager, 225-201-0993 CONTINUING EDUCATION, 225-201-0995, [email protected] married to Dr. Adell Brown, Jr.— local and state level and is always there in support of LSNA’s Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to raise three lovely daughters— legislative efforts advocating for both the patients and her 225-201-0993 Fax 225-201-0971 Brandy, Ashley and Adele—and profession. At the national level, she was a delegate to the [email protected] to be a proud grandmother to her American Nurses Association’s House of Delegates from 1962 Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement of grandson, Taylor. to l984 and participated in the NCAP Political Skills Workshop approval by the Louisiana State Nurses Association of the products advertised, the advertisers or the claims made. and the National Women’s Education on Campaigning in Rejection of an advertisement does not imply that a product offered for advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer Celena Haynie Washington, D.C.