525640
research-article2014
TCNXXX10.1177/1043659614525640Journal of Transcultural NursingGraciela Cuellar
Editorial
The Legacy of Nelson Mandela: Impact on Transcultural Health Care
Journal of Transcultural Nursing 2014, Vol. 25(3) 217 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1043659614525640 tcn.sagepub.com
Norma Graciela Cuellar1 On December 5, 2013, the world lost an iconic activist for justice for all in our global society. Nelson Mandela was known to many as a man who himself suffered extreme injustice in his own life only to continue his own quest to give justice to others. He fought for the eradication of racism. The liberation movements that he led, resulting in imprisonment for 26 years, freed all the people of South Africa. As a result of his determination and commitment, he was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the US Congressional Medal. Mr. Mandela had a remarkable influence on all people because of the way he led his own life. He inspired others through his own actions – as a statesman, revolutionary, ethicist, and liberal. Listening to him or reading his quotes or speeches, it is easy to see how he was charismatic and motivating to so many people in the world. After being imprisoned for 26 years for his leadership in overthrowing the system of apartheid in South Africa, he made it clear that he wanted a society of forgiveness for the perpetrators of apartheid. “Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders cannot afford to hate.”
Mr. Mandela always looked ahead at the possibilities – doing what needed to be done. He valued relationships and respected all persons as human beings. Mayo Angelou stated “he showed us how liberating it is to forgive”. When she spent time with him in Africa, she said “he had a compliment to give to everybody, including my housekeeper and doorman. It was amazing. A gentle giant, he was.” Mr. Mandela also had a strong belief about health care access for all, including the very poor. He believed that everyone had the right to health care services, especially reproductive health care. In 1996, his country adopted a new Constitution that encouraged the improvement of quality of life by eliminating poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, and disease. Mandela believed in human rights for everyone. This is not an uncommon quest for all of us. We see the injustices of inadequate health care in all countries. Yet, it remains a problem. Why isn’t it getting better? How do we as
transcultural health care providers continue to strive to make health care access available for all? How do we make a difference? We should never give up on our quest to provide excellent health care to all cultures and diverse groups. We should remember great leaders, like Nelson Mandela, who fought so hard for justice for all persons and believed in health care access for all. “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
I am reminded of a nurse that I know who was a student of mine. Tonya Kane received her DNP in 2012. Her goal was not to become an educator, or a leader, or an administrator, but to continue to serve her patients in the best way that she can. As I encouraged her to publish, or go into leadership, or continue her scholarship, she reminded me frequently “I just want to be the best nurse I can be and stay in my clinical setting.” She currently lives in Houston, TX where she cares for the indigent and the homeless. She does not do this for the money or the fame; rather she cares for the people she provides services for. She loves what she does – she is passionate about what she does. She goes to her patients - under the bridges, in the dark alleys, in the homeless shelters and she does this selflessly because she believes all people deserve dignity and respect. Recently, she told me she spent over 6 hours helping someone get on Medicaid on a Saturday afternoon. I know Tonya is not the only nurse who does this but I don’t think we have enough nurses who do it. She exemplifies what Nelson Mandela asked of all of us – to provide access to health care for all and to treat all people with dignity and respect. Thank you Tonya and all nurses who help the underserved, minority, uninsured persons of the world. 1
University of AL, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Corresponding Author: Norma Graciela Cuellar, University of AL, Box 870358, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from tcn.sagepub.com at NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV on April 30, 2015
research-article2014
TCNXXX10.1177/1043659614525640Journal of Transcultural NursingGraciela Cuellar
Editorial
The Legacy of Nelson Mandela: Impact on Transcultural Health Care
Journal of Transcultural Nursing 2014, Vol. 25(3) 217 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1043659614525640 tcn.sagepub.com
Norma Graciela Cuellar1 On December 5, 2013, the world lost an iconic activist for justice for all in our global society. Nelson Mandela was known to many as a man who himself suffered extreme injustice in his own life only to continue his own quest to give justice to others. He fought for the eradication of racism. The liberation movements that he led, resulting in imprisonment for 26 years, freed all the people of South Africa. As a result of his determination and commitment, he was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the US Congressional Medal. Mr. Mandela had a remarkable influence on all people because of the way he led his own life. He inspired others through his own actions – as a statesman, revolutionary, ethicist, and liberal. Listening to him or reading his quotes or speeches, it is easy to see how he was charismatic and motivating to so many people in the world. After being imprisoned for 26 years for his leadership in overthrowing the system of apartheid in South Africa, he made it clear that he wanted a society of forgiveness for the perpetrators of apartheid. “Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders cannot afford to hate.”
Mr. Mandela always looked ahead at the possibilities – doing what needed to be done. He valued relationships and respected all persons as human beings. Mayo Angelou stated “he showed us how liberating it is to forgive”. When she spent time with him in Africa, she said “he had a compliment to give to everybody, including my housekeeper and doorman. It was amazing. A gentle giant, he was.” Mr. Mandela also had a strong belief about health care access for all, including the very poor. He believed that everyone had the right to health care services, especially reproductive health care. In 1996, his country adopted a new Constitution that encouraged the improvement of quality of life by eliminating poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, and disease. Mandela believed in human rights for everyone. This is not an uncommon quest for all of us. We see the injustices of inadequate health care in all countries. Yet, it remains a problem. Why isn’t it getting better? How do we as
transcultural health care providers continue to strive to make health care access available for all? How do we make a difference? We should never give up on our quest to provide excellent health care to all cultures and diverse groups. We should remember great leaders, like Nelson Mandela, who fought so hard for justice for all persons and believed in health care access for all. “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
I am reminded of a nurse that I know who was a student of mine. Tonya Kane received her DNP in 2012. Her goal was not to become an educator, or a leader, or an administrator, but to continue to serve her patients in the best way that she can. As I encouraged her to publish, or go into leadership, or continue her scholarship, she reminded me frequently “I just want to be the best nurse I can be and stay in my clinical setting.” She currently lives in Houston, TX where she cares for the indigent and the homeless. She does not do this for the money or the fame; rather she cares for the people she provides services for. She loves what she does – she is passionate about what she does. She goes to her patients - under the bridges, in the dark alleys, in the homeless shelters and she does this selflessly because she believes all people deserve dignity and respect. Recently, she told me she spent over 6 hours helping someone get on Medicaid on a Saturday afternoon. I know Tonya is not the only nurse who does this but I don’t think we have enough nurses who do it. She exemplifies what Nelson Mandela asked of all of us – to provide access to health care for all and to treat all people with dignity and respect. Thank you Tonya and all nurses who help the underserved, minority, uninsured persons of the world. 1
University of AL, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Corresponding Author: Norma Graciela Cuellar, University of AL, Box 870358, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from tcn.sagepub.com at NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV on April 30, 2015
