During her lifetime, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde changed the face of nursing in the United States and abroad, influencing nursing practice, education, and advocacy. Despite her personal tragedies, she left a lasting legacy of nursing influence. Here are a few of her contributions:
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a nurse
Originally from Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde immigrated to the United States in her early twenties. While working as a nurse in San Antonio during the 1940s, she became struck by the dearth of nurses in the Hispanic community. Inspired, she worked to change this. As a result, she made great strides in improving health care for Hispanics.
Among her many achievements, Dr. Ildaura was instrumental in the formation of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). She was the first Hispanic nursing dean and later served as an associate dean at the University of Washington. Her dedication to improving healthcare for the Hispanic community earned her the living legend award from the American Academy of Nursing. She died in Panama in 2010, at age 89.
Born in Panama, Murillo-Rohde immigrated to the United States when she was just twenty-five. The majority of San Antonio was Hispanic at the time, so she sought to recruit Hispanic nurses. As a result, she became the first Hispanic associate dean of nursing at the University of Washington and served as the first Hispanic dean at New York University’s School of Nursing.
After earning her doctorate from New York University, Murillo-Rohde worked in a variety of jobs to showcase her expertise in psychiatric nursing. She served as the first president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. As a psychiatric nurse, she promoted cultural awareness. She was also honored with a fellowship from the American Academy of Nursing.
She was a professor
In addition to being a nurse, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a professor and the dean of the State University of New York School of Nursing in Brooklyn. She served as a professor at SUNY and was a permanent representative of UNICEF New York. She was honored with the Living Legend Award from the American Academy of Nursing, and Google has even honored her with an article about her.
Born in Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Columbia University and later her master’s degree at New York University. She was the first Hispanic woman to earn a doctorate from NYU, where she later worked as a nurse professor. She also helped to establish the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and helped establish the profession for Hispanic women and eventually became the first Hispanic Associate Dean at Washington University and later served as the primary dean of the nursing school at NYU.
Although she is best remembered for her many accomplishments, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a prolific author. She researches mental health and Latino culture impacted the field of nursing and wrote several books, including The Addict as an Inpatient, Family Life Among Mainland Puerto Ricans in New York City Slums, and Cultural Perspectives in Family Therapy.
She was an activist
Educator, nurse, and researcher, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde were a pioneer in the nursing field and a trailblazer in promoting Latino nurses. She served as the first Hispanic nurse dean at New York University and the first Hispanic Dean of Nursing at SUNY. In 1994, she was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing. Her contributions to the field of nursing are immeasurable.
Born in Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was an expert in psychotherapy and served as a dean at the State University of New York (SUNY). She also worked as a psychiatric consultant to the Guatemalan government for the World Health Organization and established a training program for medical staff in Guatemala. She received honors from the American Academy of Nursing and was also named a Living Legend by Google.
On Sept. 15
On Sept. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month begins, and Google will honor the pioneering Hispanic nurse Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde with a Google Doodle. Lora created an illustration of Dr. Murillo-Rohde in a hospital setting. Murillo-Rohde founded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), originally known as the Spanish Speaking/Spanish Surnamed Nurses’ Caucus. The Doodle celebrates the nurse’s life and legacy by focusing on her contributions to nursing education.
She was dedicated to the needs of the Hispanic community. She advocated for nurses to understand the culture of the patients they serve. In her groundbreaking article, she pointed out that nurses must be aware of the culture in order to provide the best care possible. The article also highlights the value of a diverse nursing workforce. A diverse workforce provides a greater chance of preventing racial bias and providing quality care.
She was a nurse educator
A well-known psychiatric nurse, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde had a national and international impact. She championed the special health care needs of Hispanic communities, including those living in poverty. Murillo-Rohde earned her nursing diploma in San Antonio and her undergraduate degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. She had worked with the Puerto Rican Syndrome, which was a term used to describe the traumatic experiences of Puerto Rican soldiers during World War II. She passed away in Panama in 2010, but her legacy lives on.
Her early career was in nursing, beginning in the heavily Hispanic city of San Antonio, Texas. Her role as a nurse was unique because there were few Hispanic nurses in the community. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in psychiatric mental health at Columbia University, followed by her Master’s and Doctorate in nursing at New York University. While working at the NYU School of Nursing, she established the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NASSN) and became the first Hispanic Associate Dean.
Born in Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde immigrated to the United States in 1945. She began her career as a psychiatric nurse in San Antonio, Texas. Because the city was predominantly Hispanic, she was motivated to recruit Hispanic nurses for the local hospital. Murillo-Rohde earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychiatric nursing from Columbia University. She also earned her Master’s and Doctorate from New York University.
She was a therapist
Born in Panama, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a nurse, academic, and health policy advocate who championed the health needs of the Hispanic community. She earned her nursing diploma in San Antonio, Texas, and her undergraduate degree in teaching from Columbia University and worked with patients suffering from Puerto Rican syndrome, which was caused by traumatizing Puerto Rican soldiers during the Korean War. She also founded the first psychiatric division at the Elmhurst General Hospital in Queens, where she practiced as an Associate Dean.
In addition to being a therapist, Murillo-Rohde served as a Dean of Nursing at the State University of New York. She also served as a psychiatric consultant to the government of Guatemala. She was appointed a member of the World Health Organization’s Permanent Representative to UNICEF and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women and passed away in Panama at the age of 89.
After a distinguished career as a nurse, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde also became an influential Latina in nursing. Born in Panama, she studied at Columbia University and went on to earn her Ph.D. from New York University. She later became an associate dean at the University of Washington.
She was a tennis instructor
The impact of Dr. The Panamanian-born nurse, business executive, and professor was an influential figure in the U.S. Hispanic community. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Murillo-Rohde has earned the title of Living Legend from the American Academy of Nursing. She is one of the few Hispanic women to achieve this distinction.
The Panamanian-born physician, administrator, and professor played an important role in the Hispanic community. She founded the Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1975. Designed by Loris Lora, the Doodle features Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde holding a notebook in a hospital.
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde’s most notable achievement
Despite her varied roles, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde’s most notable achievement is her dedication to advancing the health of the underprivileged. Her passion for education and the need to help those in need is remarkable. Although she grew up in Panama, she eventually moved to the United States and earned her Ph.D. Since then, she has been an active member of the American Institute of Nursing and is one of the Living Legends of the organization.