Mary Eliza MahoneyBiographyMary Eliza Mahoney was born on May 7, 1845 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Smith, J and Phelps, S, 1992) Mary Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse. She spent more than 40 years as a private nurse visiting sick people's homes to care for them. She was such a wonderful private nurse that after joining a nursing directory, Mary was sought out again and again by families who hired her all over the country, near and far. Mary Mahoney was a member of the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, now known as the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. (Webster, Raymond B, 1999). She was also an early member of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN), a minority nursing organization focused on equality for African American nurses comparable to that of non-minority nurses. Mary was named chaplain of the organization and was later made a life member. After her death on January 4, 1926 from breast cancer, the National Association of Colored Registered Nurses presented an award in honor of Mary Eliza Mahoney, after the NACGN disbanded in 1951, the American Nurses Association continued the Mary Eliza Mahoney Award. (Webster, Raymond B, 1999) Mary became the first African American registered nurse in 1879. (Smith, J and Phelps, S, 1992) She contributed to organizations such as the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. , and actively participated in the women's suffrage movement, becoming one of the first women to register to vote in Boston, Massachusetts. The issue closest to Mary Mahoney's heart was the equality of the African American nurse with...... middle of paper...... and standing up for what is right and what I believe in . The most important thing What I learned from Mary Mahoney is that I can do anything I set my mind to, no matter what obstacles stand in my way, because with a lot of courage and a lot of manual work, everything is possible. As I learn more about Mary Mahoney and her life, I have renewed faith that I can do anything in life that I can dream of doing. It may not be the easiest to make your dreams come true, but it will be the best decision you ever make. ReferencesWhitehead, DK, Weiss, SA and Tappen, RM (2010). Essential Elements of Nursing Leadership and Management, (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Davis. Smith, J and Phelps, S (1992). Notable Black American Women, (1st ed.). Detroit, Michigan: GaleWebster, Raymond B (1999). African American Firsts in Science and Technology, (1st ed.) Farmington Hills, MI: Gale