by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

The Tri-County Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is to present speaker Lorraine Baugh, a past president of the association, as part of the Lowcountry’s celebration of Black Nurses Day.

Baugh, who is scheduled to speak from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 6 in the MUSC Institute of Psychiatry Auditorium, is a former nurse who served with the NBNA from 1979 to 1983. She will speak on the changing role of black nurses as it relates to Author Maya Angelou’s poem, “The Phenomenal Woman.” She will also address issues regarding cultural competency within learning institutions and its affect upon health professions. Baugh is currently executive director for Lena Park Community Development Corp. in Boston, Mass.

“Angelou’s poem, ‘The Phenomenal Woman’ brings a great inspirational message to black women and women everywhere,” said Baugh in a recent telephone interview from Boston. “I’m concerned about how nursing professionals perceive quality care for patients of diverse cultures.”

The NBNA serves as a national organization which recognizes African American nurses and their roles as health professionals within their communities. Members are devoted to finding ways to improve health care in minority groups, especially African Americans.

The Tri-County NBNA has worked in meeting people’s health needs through active participation. The group has been instrumental in leading key health-related projects, including bone marrow drives within Charleston-area communities, minority recruitment for nursing students, and organization of the Lowcountry Hypertension Screening Project. The project is a collaborative effort of the NBNA and the International Society of Hypertension on Blacks involving the evaluation of more than 5,000 Lowcountry African Americans within a two-year period.

Other local NBNA activities revolve around the recognition of February as Black History Month. They include participation in the City of Charleston’s Minority Health Fair on Feb. 28, the Annual Sweetheart’s Ball whose proceeds provide scholarships for nursing students, plus other program assistance involving MUSC’s College of Nursing.

National Black Nurses Day is recognized on the first Friday of February. Nurses celebrate and recognize this day by focusing upon important contributions made to both the nursing profession and health care industry within their communities.

In addition to Friday’s speech, Baugh is also scheduled to meet with the College of Nursing’s administrative faculty and staff to discuss cultural competency and how it can be effectively introduced through MUSC’s strategic plan. She will also talk with nursing students regarding student issues and concerns.

Today, NBNA members are active through other challenging issues aimed at providing African Americans with a better quality of life. Other areas of focus include improved health screenings, educational programs to prevent cardiovascular disease, women and children’s health, medical research, development and monitoring of forums for public advocacy on minority-related issues, plus review of strategies to reduce violence in African American communities.