In 1976, President Gerald Ford started officially recognizing Black History Month during the celebration of the Bicentennial. Black History Month is now celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers, both great and small.

President Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.

In light of celebrating the accomplishments of Black Americans, I would like to honor a role model and mentor that made an indelible impression on this diabetes nurse.

As a new, slightly goofy nurse working at UCLA Medical Center in the 1980s, I was developing my sense of who I wanted to become as a professional. My style was relaxed and informal and I was often arrived to work a few minutes late.

Later that year, I started graduate school and transferred to the night shift. That’s when I met Ms. Davis, who role modeled the professional I wanted to become.

Ms. Davis was the only black nurse in our unit and she commanded respect. As a charge nurse, she arrived to work early and listened intently to the report, taking careful notes. Her crisp white uniform, sparkling white shoes, and nurses cap pinned proudly on her head inspired me to be better. As a matter of fact, I got my nurse’s cap down from it’s shelf and started wearing it again, along with shining my shoes and arriving on time.

We never called Ms. Davis by her first name and we never questioned why. We understood that she had earned our deference and respect.

As a new nurse, I had plenty of questions, which Ms. Davis answered with kindness, never making me feel embarrassed or inferior. She was knowledgeable, hard working and a natural leader. I was excitable and known to overreact in crisis situations. Ms. Davis role modeled calm composure coupled with swift and deliberate action.

Once Ms. Davis found me crying in the break room.

One of my patients had a constricting trachea, gradually stopping airflow, that no surgery would repair. I was devastated and in despair. Ms. Davis wrapped her arms around me and patted my back. This moment might have lasted for seconds or minutes. It didn’t matter, her hug seemed to set my world right again.

Thank you Ms. Davis for showing me what I could become. You are one of my most influential role models as a professional nurse. Your presence, grace, and dignity are etched in my memory forever.

In gratitude,

Coach Beverly

We want to post your stories!

In celebration of Black History Month, please share your stories with us so we can highlight a colleague, friend, or role model that made a difference in your life. We will publish your stories throughout this month in recognition of Black History Month to celebrate our black role models and heroes!

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Recorded and Ready for Viewing Annual Level 2 – Standards of Care Update!

This course is an essential review for anyone in the field of diabetes. This course summarizes the 2021 updates to the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and provides critical teaching points and content for health care professionals involved in diabetes care and education.

Earn 2.0 CEs and get ready to lead the charge to implement best care practices for the New Year. 

Topics Include:

• A review of changes and updates to the 2021 ADA Standards of Medical Care
• Identification of key elements of the position statement
• Discussion of how diabetes educators can apply this information in their clinical setting

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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since these programs are approved by the CDR it satisfies the CE requirements for the CDCES regardless of your profession.*  

The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.