Chicago Nursing Organizations Team Up to Host National Black Nurses Day Celebration

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The Chicago-area celebration of National Black Nurses Day 2008 will be held at Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana Avenue in Chicago, on Friday, February 1, 2008, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This celebration is being hosted by four professional black nursing organizations in the Chicagoland area: The Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, Alpha Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Beta Mu Chapter of Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority and Provident Hospital Nurses’ Alumni Association.

This year’s ceremony will celebrate the contributions of black nurses working in the media (radio, television and public relations), ministry (pastoral care and spiritual support), occupational/industrial health, and quality management/assurance (utilization review, case management and all related categories). All members of the health care community are invited to attend and salute these nurses for their contributions to the welfare of society. For additional information, call (773) 792-7222.

Call for Nominations:

Nominations are being sought for honorees to be recognized at the National Black Nurses Day celebration. Candidates must be a black nurse (RN or LPN) with at least five years of full-time experience and exceptional leadership skills in one of the following specialties, as described above: media, ministry, occupational/industrial health, and quality management/assurance.

Candidates must submit:

1. Your professional resume.

2. A one-page narrative describing how working in this specialty has impacted you professionally and personally, and how it has impacted patient/client outcomes.

3. Three (3) letters of professional recommendation.

Nomination materials should be mailed to:
The National Black Nurses Day Committee
P.O. Box 17598
Chicago, IL 60617

All items must be received by January 5th, 2008. Any questions, please call (773) 792-7222.

History

In 1988, New York Congressman the Hon. Charles Rangel was instrumental in getting the U.S. Congress to pass legislation establishing the first Friday in the month of February as the day to acknowledge the contributions to health care and society made by all black nurses. The first National Black Nurses Day celebration was held on February 3, 1989.

The Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association (CCNBNA) was established in 1973 under the leadership of the late Rev. Christine Leak, RN. The organization’s membership consists of RNs, LPNs and student nurses. The current President is Marion Summage.

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. is a national sorority for nurses and nursing students that was founded on October 16, 1932, at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. The Alpha Eta Chapter was established in May 1980. The chapter’s current Basileus is Dicie Moore.

Beta Mu Chapter of Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority was established in 1934 at Provident Hospital. This organization holds the distinction of being the first professional black nursing organization in the city of Chicago. The current Basileus is Marilynn Parker.

Provident Hospital Nurses’ Alumni Association consists of graduates of Provident Hospital’s School of Nursing. The alumni association has been in existence since 1891. The current president is Louise Hoskins Broadnax.

—compiled by Pam Chwedyk