Mary Elizabeth Carnegie was a pioneer for African American nursing, fighting for equal/equitable rights and proper education for nurses of color. She developed the baccalaureate nursing program for Hampton University and served as dean of the nursing program for Florida A&M University, both HBCUs. Dr. Carnegie worked tirelessly on various boards and committees. She authored many titles, most recently before she died in 2008, The Soul of Leadership: Journeys in Leadership and Achievement with Distinguished African American Nurses, she said this about her life and legacy, “If I have done anything by taking a stand for racial equality in the nursing profession and making sure that black nurses are in the literature, having been left out for so long, I feel that I have fulfilled my purpose for having been in this world.” (Minority Nurse, 2013). There is not one event to highlight from Dr. Carnegie’s life work, but rather, many events, including a BSN program at Hampton, integrated nursing programs in Florida, and various other states. Dr. Carnegie pushed for integration and the acknowledgement of black nurses which is why I am where I am today.
Minority Magazine. (2013). Nursing Legend Dr. M. Elizabeth Carnegie Passes Away. https://minoritynurse.com/nursing-legend-dr-m-elizabeth-carnegie-passes-away/
Texas Women’s University. (2019). How the Evolution of Nursing Profession Benefits Nurses & Patients Alike. https://onlinenursing.twu.edu/blog/evolution-of-nursing-profession
Zimmerman, K. (2017). International Journal of Childbirth Education. Essentials of Evidence Based Practice. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=c64a25f2-c3d2-4cef-90fe-ebdb37440833%40redis
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