Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a remarkable figure in the field of nursing and academia, with an extensive career that spanned several decades. She inspired many people, made significant contributions to the nursing industry, and served as a role model for aspiring nurses.
Born on September 6, 1920, in Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a nurse, professor, academic, tennis instructor, and organizational administrator. She passed away on September 5, 2010, leaving a legacy of accomplishments that inspire new generations of nurses.
This blog post will discover Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde’s accomplishments, her personal life, and her age.
Educational Background
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde arrived in the United States in 1945 and completed her nursing diploma from the Medical and Surgical Hospital School of Nursing in 1948. In 1953, she earned an undergraduate degree in psychiatric mental health nursing from Columbia University. After obtaining an undergraduate degree, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde pursued further education and completed her Master’s and Doctorate degrees at New York University.
She made history as the first Hispanic nurse to receive a Ph.D. in 1971. Her dissertation was written on a typewriter, which was customary at the time, and focused on the relationship between Puerto Rican mother-son interpersonal compatibility.
Dr ildaura Murillo Rohde Professional Career
Dr. Ildaura Murillo’s career began in San Antonio, Texas, but she realized that very few Hispanic nurses were serving the community. She joined Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, where she worked with Puerto Rican soldiers from the Korean War who were diagnosed with “Puerto Rican syndrome.”
Later, she was recruited to Wayne County General Hospital’s Psychiatric Division in Michigan before returning to New York to establish the first psychiatric division at Elmhurst General Hospital in Queens. She also served as a reviewer of federal research and education grants in Washington, D.C., and again observed a lack of Hispanic nurses in academia, research, or policy settings who could provide guidance to lawmakers on healthcare concerns affecting Hispanic communities.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde held numerous prestigious positions, including Dean and Professor Emeritus of Nursing at the State University of New York School of Nursing in Brooklyn and Associate Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Her Publications & Research
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a prolific author who also contributed to the literature on the Hispanic experience throughout her career. Some of her notable research and articles include
- The Addict as an Inpatient” in 1963
- Family Life among Mainland Puerto Ricans in New York City Slums in 1976
- Cultural Sensitivity in the Care of the Hispanic Patient in 1979
- Chicano Aging and Mental Health in 1983
- Cultural Perspectives in Family Therapy in 1985
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Accomplishments
Dr. Rohde’s accomplishments were widely recognized, including the following:
- She was appointed as a permanent representative of UNICEF.
- In 1991, she got selected by New York City Mayor David Dinkins to serve on a commission that examined the quality of care in the city’s hospitals.
- She also served as a psychiatric consultant to the Guatemalan government on behalf of the World Health Organization, where she developed a pilot program for training personnel in psychiatric care.
- She was designated as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 1994 and was recently honored by Google.
- She laid the foundation of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1976.
Foundation of NAHN
In 1974, Hispanic nurse members of the American Nurses Association (ANA), including Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, held a meeting during the ANA Convention in Atlantic City to establish a Hispanic Nurses Caucus with the aim of better addressing the needs of Hispanic nurses within the ANA. However, leadership initially rejected them at at that time.
At the following conference in San Francisco in 1976, it was decided that they would establish their own organization called the National Association of Spanish-Speaking Spanish-Surnamed Nurses (NASSSN), with Dr. Murillo-Rohde serving as its first president. The organization later changed its name to the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1979, and in 2002, it launched its bilingual professional peer-reviewed publication, Hispanic Health Care International.
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Age
She was 89 years old when she died on September 5, 2010, just one day before her 90th birthday. Her legacy continues to inspire and motivate nurses around the world to make a difference in their communities.
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Quotes
Below are some of the famous quotes of Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde.
1- High school counselors would try to railroad Hispanic students into the AD nursing programs. I’m proud of the fact that we’ve [National Association of Hispanic Nurses] been able to push more of our nurses on to earn doctoral degrees. We now have a number of Hispanic doctoral nurses who are very good at research and have been recognized worldwide for their studies. For example, Mary Lou de Leon Siantz has done work with Mexican migrant families that was truly ground-breaking. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
2- I began to realize that something had to be done about this. I saw that I was the only Hispanic nurse who was going to Washington to work with the federal government, review research and education grants, etc. There was nobody else. I looked behind me and thought: “Where are my people?” -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
3- I believe that nursing is the compassionate, effective, and humane care given by one who is educated and trained in the art and science of nursing to someone who is in need of help because of problems in health or in activities of his daily life. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
4- Nursing at its highest level encompasses the teaching of the individual to know his body and its functions for the maintenance and promotion of health and prevention of disease. Self-care is very efficacious when people are encouraged and guided to learn to care for themselves, whenever possible. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
5- Recognition of human variation is basic to sensitive and effective nursing care and outcomes. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
6- There was no money to do anything. For the first four years, I was the chief cook and bottle washer for NAHN. I promoted the association, I put out the newsletter, I did everything. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
7- We have done a lot but we need to do more. We want to continue to increase our membership. As I travel, I still hear Hispanic nurses saying, “I didn’t know that we had [an organization like NAHN]”. -Ildaura Murillo-Rohde
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a remarkable figure in the field of nursing and academia. Her contributions to the nursing profession and her advocacy for diversity and inclusivity continue to profoundly impact the nursing field today. Her life serves as an inspiration to all those who seek to make a positive impact on the world.
