Emma Goldman (1869-1940)

Inspiration for Activism!

Radical political anarchist, activist feminist heroine, nurse, editor, writer, teacher, jailbird and general trouble-maker
Insisted on the fundamental connections between and among wide-ranging, burning political and social issues, including prisons, atheism, freedom of speech, militarism, capitalism, marriage, free love, and homosexuality.
Became convinced that birth control was essential to women’s sexual and economic freedom when she worked as a nurse and midwife among poor immigrant workers on the Lower East Side in the 1890s.
Became a mentor to Margaret Sanger, but insisted that birth control needed to be addressed in the context of the broad social, economic, and political forces that led to its suppression.
In 1906 established the periodical Mother Earth, to provide “a place of expression for the young idealists in arts and letters”
The Emma Goldman Clinic, a women’s health center located in Iowa City, Iowa, selected Goldman as a namesake “in recognition of her challenging spirit.” See clinic welcome video

Ethel Johns (1879-1968)

Canadian nurse advocate for nursing education and gender and racial equality.
In 1919, established first Canadian baccalaureate program at University of
Ethel Johns

British Columbia.
Provided consultation in the U.S. and Europe, establishing Schools of Nursing in both countries.
Hired by the Rockefeller Foundation to study status of African American women in nursing. Her report advocated for increased educational and employment opportunities for Black women but her recommendations were not acted upon until the 1980s.
Report highlighted racial inequality in nursing education and employment, particularly the exploitation of Black nursing students.

More information here.

Served as one of the original board members for the American Cannabis Nurses Association (2014-2016).
Became discouraged about the limitations of med-surg and oncology hospital care, turned to home care for a more personalized approach to
Marcie Cooper

care, and ultimately to holistic nursing.
Certified in Advanced Holistic Nursing.
Builds a bridge between conventional healthcare and holistic nursing care that includes cannabis therapeutics.
Includes various complementary therapies such as hypnotherapy, auricular acupuncture, healing touch and aromatherapy.
Teaches Geriatric Nursing and Transcultural Nursing in a BSN Nursing program, practices in hospice and palliative care, and provides consultation related to holistic nursing and the use of cannabis.

More information here, here and here.

One of the first Apsáalooke (Crow) people to achieve a higher education, and the first Crow registered nurse in the United States
Worked diligently to modernize the health services offered to her tribe
Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail

and fight the forced sterilization of Native American women.
For over 30 years (1930-1960) served as a consultant throughout the United States to improve services to Native American populations; her wit and open candore opened many doors and earned her the respect of many political leaders.
Passionately dedicated to the health and welfare of children and mothers.
Performed worldwide as a dancer in the Crow Indian Ceremonial Dancers troupe, preserving and advocating for Native American culture and values.
Founded the first professional association of Native American nurses.
Named in 1978 by the American Indian Nurses Association the “Grandmother of American Indian Nurses.”

More information here, here, here, here, and here

Inspiration for activism!

“Compassionate, and unconventional, soon becoming an ardent pacifist and then a militant suffragist” from AJPH
Despite objections from other nurses who believed nurses should not be involved politically, Dock organized and engaged in picketing and
Lavinia Dock

protesting on behalf of the vote for women in the United States, organizing protests and campaigns for suffrage; she was arrested at least 3 times for attempting to vote.
Devoted to a wide range of issues in addition to women’s suffrage, including better housing for immigrants, safe working conditions, state and national legislation to regulate child labor, pensions and health insurance.
Worked tirelessly for better standards and practices for nursing education; she wrote, financed and published Materia Medica for Nurses, a nursing textbook of pharmacology.
Served as a visiting nurse with the House on Henry Street in New York City, contributing to standards for public health nursing world-wide.
Co-authored, with Adelaide Nutting, “A History of Nursing,” believing that nursing would not be fully accepted until its history had been fully documented. This work has been recognized as “culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.”