NBNA/ABNA
• The National Black Nurse’s Association was organized in 1971 under the leadership of Dr. Lauranne Sams, former Dean and professor of nursing at Tuskegee University. It was incorporated on September 2, 1972 in the state of Ohio.
• Dr. Sams challenged each black nurse to start a local chapter in their city at the American Nurse’s Association convention in 1972.
• NBNA represents 308,000 registered nurses, Licensed vocational/practical nurse, nursing students, and retired nurses from the USA, Eastern Caribbean, and Africa.
• NBNA is comprised of 114 chapters in 34 states.
• Improving the health of African Americans by providing culturally competent health care services in community-based health programs is the cornerstone of the NBNA. This Collaborative Community Health Model was developed by past NBNA presidents.
• The Acadiana Black Nurse’s Association was chartered in July 2011.
• The founding members included 15 local nurses that met to discuss creating a chapter.
• The mission of the ABNA is similar to that of the NBNA, to serve our community by providing a forum for nurses to advocate and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for the underserved.
• We fulfil this mission as a local chapter by collaborating with various local and community based organizations to sponsor and participate in health fairs, flu and covid vaccine clinics, medical screenings and informational sessions which help to bridge the health disparities of the underserved.