learn about our history
To advocate for Black nurses and diverse communities by promoting equitable access to professional development, advancing inclusive education, and improving health outcomes through culturally responsive care.
RBNA – At the Heart of Community Health
Empowering Equity, Elevating Voices, and Bridging the Healthcare Divide
Dr. Lauranne Sams, NBNA Founding President
The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) was organized in 1971 under the leadership of Dr. Lauranne Sams, former Dean and Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama. NBNA is a non-profit organization incorporated on September 2, 1972 in the state of Ohio. NBNA represents 150,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses from the USA, Eastern Caribbean and Africa, with 92 chartered chapters, in 35 states.
The National Black Nurses Association’s mission is “to represent and provide a forum for Black nurses to advocate and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color”.
In the summer of 2018, discussions commenced regarding the establishment of a local chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. The inaugural interest meeting for the new Rochester chapter took place on July 31, 2018, at the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing, attracting 39 participants and receiving support from Dean Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP.
RBNA swiftly organized committees to develop the chapter’s bylaws, oversee officer nominations, and manage finances. The first election was conducted on November 28, 2018, and the chapter was officially incorporated as a 501c3 on December 12, 2018. Currently, the membership exceeds 50 individuals, including LPNs, RNs, APRNs, and nursing students. In July 2019, we were honored as founding members at the 47th Annual National Black Nurses Association Conference.
The National Black Nurses Association’s mission is “to represent and provide a forum for Black nurses to advocate and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color”.
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