WINTER 2007
$3.00
How An A&M
Philosopher Says
Socrates, Descartes,
and DuBois May Be No
Different Than Those
Cussin’ Rappers You
Love To Hate!
Derrrick Darby
THIS ISSUE: Purple and White Forever, PV Nursing & More
PV Nursing
LEGACY
Just What The Doctor Ordered
O
n May 21, 1928,
Prairie View S
tate Normal and
Industrial College held its 49th Annual Commencement exercises and graduated Willia N. Davis and Jessie
Mae Whitley, making them the
first to graduate from the newly
formed three-year program.
Stiff Competition
A 1947 campus fire damaged
countless university records.
What is known is that in 1918
five students entered a two-year
diploma-like program that paralleled, but never was a part of,
a hospital’s nursing curriculum.
Those who completed the program may have received certificates. In 1930, under new state
accreditation rules,
the nursing
school became affiliated with Jefferson Davis
Hospital in
Houston.
Dr. Betty Adams
“We have a strong legacy,” says
Dr. Betty Nash Adams, dean
of PVAMU’s School of Nursing. “This program mirrors the
great contribution this college
makes. If it weren’t for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with nursing
programs, Black women would
have had to leave the south to
enter the profession.”
Dr. Adams proudly points out
CONTINUED PAGE 15
Top Scoring Universities 2005
Pass rates on state exam to license registered nurses among
the 26 baccalaureate programs:
SchoolPassing Percentage
HBU
No. of Students
96.77
30/31
96.72
96.33
96.26
95.83
59/61
105/109
103/109
23/24
95.56
43/45
(Houston Baptist University)
TAMU Corpus
UT-Tyler
UT-Austin
TAM-IU
(TAM International University)
PVAMU
From the Texas Board of Nursing Examiners,www.bne.state.tx.us
OUR★TEXAS
8
WINTER 2007 | www.ourtexas.com
Nursing in Texas got its biggest boost when a lit-
Mary Mahoney,
America’s First
When you see a
tle known land-grant college began
nurse, thank her
for her dedica-
teaching eager students more than 80 years ago.
tion. But also give
a shout out for
Mary Eliza Mahoney, the one
who pioneer the
Mahoney
career for the rest
of us.
Recently, a congressional resolution to bring
Mahoney national recognition passed the U.S.
House and is on its way to the U.S. Senate. Rep.
Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas introduced
it in the spring. With Senate approval, the
resolution will honor the achievements of Mahoney who became Black America’s first registered nurse. Johnson’s resolution passed with
the help of nearly 40 co-sponsors, joined by six
nursing groups, including the American Nurses Association, Association of Black Nurses and
National Association of Hispanic Nurses. Her
legacy continues to be a source of pride and
inspiration to all nurses, says Johnson, whose
own nursing career spanned 15 years.
Mary Eliza Mahoney and 39 white women
began a hospital-based nursing program at
the New England Hospital for Women and
Children in Roxbury, Massachusetts in1877
during Reconstruction. More to the point,
she enrolled just twelve years after the Civil
War ended and eight years after the Fourteen
Amendment brought citizenship to her and
the rest of us. Enduring racial insults throughout her training and long hours, Mahoney became one of only three students to graduate
in 1879. At age 33, she was instrumental in
making nursing an equal opportunity profession.
She worked primarily as a private nurse and
insisted that she and other registered nurses
be treated as professionals and not be required to perform household chores in addition to their regular duties. Her nursing career
ended as director of a New York orphanage in
1912.
Mahoney also co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN)
in 1908 and campaigned for woman suffrage.
Alice Adams of Austin contributed
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1923
and died from it in 1926.
www.ourtexas.com | WINTER 2007
9 OUR★TEXAS
LEGACY
“
[PV has] a
strong legacy.
”
Class of ‘06
Jayne Pamela Jocson
My Calling
Age/Home: 23, in Houston
Favorite world leader: Mother Teresa
Favorite movie: Mrs. Doubtfire
Last book read: A nursing book
Favorite song: Breathe, contemporary
Christian
My hero: Susanna Capalad, my
grandmother
Favorite instructors: Anna Sallee and
Ejim Sule
Honors: Dean’s list, and a member
of Sigma Theta Tau, a nursing honor
society
Long-term goals: Earn a master’s
soon and become a family nurse
practitioner; maybe teach
I chose nursing because of what mother did. She’s a medical technologist in a clinic.
Sometimes she took me there and I saw how nurses provided care. In high school, I
took field trips to hospitals and thought about becoming a pediatrician, but later, I saw
how nurses interacted with patients. I appreciated how they actually cared for them. I
felt it was my calling. Nursing takes a special person -- a compassionate individual who
must be versatile in communicating with various people. I have that passion.
My aunt and I were at a restaurant one time when a former patient remembered her.
The woman thanked her and said, “You know, you made those days so much more
comfortable.” The fact that my aunt made such a difference in someone else’s life was
very important to me.
I chose PV’s nursing program because of its reputation from others in and out of the
field. I can honestly say that I have come out stronger as a person. Though there are
times that I was nervous, I’m ready to move on and take care of the rest of my life.
I passed my boards and now work at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital in
Houston in the pediatric special care unit, which provides emergency care for children.
One thing I’ve learned is that everyone around you is different and, as a good nurse,
I must adjust and adapt to that environment. Be ready for anything. Every day will be
different.
Class of ‘06
Lakeisha De’wyne Vallier
Age/Home: 26, in Houston
Favorite world leader: Bill Clinton
Last movie: Cry Wolf
Last book read: A nursing book
Favorite song: Luther’s Here and Now
After graduation: Dad gave me a
cruise to Cozumel;
Mom, a graduation party
Favorite instructors: JoAnn Blake and
Constance Miller
Internship: At Houston’s VA Hospital
for 10-week in my junior year in 2005
Long-range goals: Earn a PhD to
become a chief nurse officer
OUR★TEXAS
10
Perfect Fit
I chose nursing because of that whole caring attitude nurses possess. I made my
decision in elementary school. I considered being a lawyer or a nurse, but veered
toward nursing because I believed I have the personality and the disposition of a
nurse. Nursing goes beyond administering medication and medical care; it’s counseling and being a people person. That’s me.
I chose PV’s nursing program because I heard about the high regard among
medical professionals and the stiff challenge the nursing school puts on you. A
lot of hospitals don’t hesitant in hiring grads from here. A Prairie View grad just
stands out.
I passed my boards and now work at Methodist Hospital in the general and
plastic surgery units. Eventually I want to work in ICU, or an intensive care unit. I
was able to maintain high grades because this program really challenges you. So
I think I’m more of a critical thinking, fast pace kind of person. The care patients’
need in ICU usually is fast pace. That kind of environment keeps me busy. I love
the challenge.
One thing I’ve learned is that I have some fears and sensitivities to conquer,
something I realized once I started the program. One is being around others who
are dying. I first thought, I really don’t want any of my patients to die. I hope that
my career helps me grow, get out of that fear. Perhaps nursing will help me see
that that is what happens with life.
WINTER 2007 | www.ourtexas.com
continued from page 8
that the very first degree granted by PV was in nursing.
Today, over 2,540 graduates serve worldwide, she says,
adding that over 1,000 students are presently enrolled.
Applicants nationwide and from Africa, Asia, North and
Central America, Europe and the Middle East generate
stiff academic competition.
Top Tier
In May 2006 PV celebrated two achievements: A 12story state-of-the-art tower located in Houston’s Texas
Medical Center became the new home for the College
of Nursing. The other – 100% of all Spring 31 grads
passed their state licensing boards on the first attempt. In
2005 its 95.56% pass rate ranked sixth among the 26
baccalaureate programs, with little more than a percentage point off the top rate scored.
Dr. Adams envisions projects like a nursing research
center, family practice and a doctorate program, will
further enhance the school, insisting that, “We want the
program to excel continually.”
She has long admired Mary Eliza Mahoney’s pioneering work and lauds Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson’s resolution.
“To recognize Mahoney represents the great contributions we nurses have made in the profession,” says Dean
Adams. “There’s still less than parity for African-American nurses. We have a great responsibility and challenge
because more are needed. Every opportunity should be
taken. Every support should be given.”
DID YOU KNOW. . .
Texas has 172,627 registered nurses among the
state’s total population of 22,490,022. That’s
about one registered nurse for every 30 Texans.
n 23,305 are black
Our population, roughly 12%, makes up about
13.5% of RNs.
n 20,715 are Mexican-American
This population makes up 35% of Texas but is
less than 12% of RNs.
n 158,816 are White
This population makes up about 50% of Texas.
but represents almost 75% of RNs.
U.S. Census, the Texas Board of Nursing Examiners and Texas Department of Health
www.ourtexas.com | WINTER 2007
13 OUR★TEXAS