She was one of only three or four students–out of a class of approximately 40–to complete the program. She worked at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Roxbury, Mass., in a number of capacities, including maid, washerwoman and cookĭespite the difficulty of the program, Mahoney proved that she had what it takes to succeed in nursing. A Nursing Legendīorn in Massachusetts in 1845, Mary Eliza Mahoney was a hospital worker for many years before she began her career as a nurse. “I can tell you that since the day I got it I have not taken it off,” Brathwaite says. The award comes with a gold medallion, decorated with a diamond.
Nominees for the award must also have made a significant contribution to nursing in general, and their achievements in promoting the integration, retention and advancement of minorities in nursing must be current and demonstrated.
The Mary Mahoney Award, which is given every two years, recognizes individual nurses or groups of nurses who have made outstanding contributions to opening and advancing opportunities in nursing to members of minority groups. That is why it was very significant for me to get this award.” She was also very instrumental during her career in bringing together minority nurses–they weren’t called ‘minority’ in those days, people called them ‘colored’ nurses then–and in helping other people to get involved in nursing. She encountered many obstacles and it took her more than to graduate. “The fact that Mary Mahoney persevered and graduated from a school of nursing at a time when most of these institutions did not accept blacks is significant,” Brathwaite adds.
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