Although LOUISE SHORES now permanently calls Washington "home,"
she is somewhat of an "American Nomad," leaving her legacy and contributions
in several states across the country. This is reflected in her education and throughout
her career. "Traveler" Shores received her diploma from Oklahoma Baptist
Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma, her BSN with Honors from Northwestern State College
in Louisiana, her Masters degree in Nursing from the University of Washington in
Seattle and her Doctorate in Education from the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver BC.
In her more than 40 years of nursing, she has practiced in Oklahoma, Washington,
Wisconsin, Illinois, and Oregon. Her career includes a wide variety of acute care
clinical nursing practice, research and education positions – allowing her always
to do what she loves most — mentoring and teaching others the art and science of
nursing and promoting the contributions of professional nursing practice.
For nearly 20 years, Louise practiced in Seattle area hospitals in a variety of
roles ranging from med-surg staff nurse, head nurse in ICUs and CCUs, OR supervisor,
and Associate Director of Nursing and as a Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor
of Nursing at the University of Washington. She was an early proponent and advocate
for advanced nursing practice roles and served as Director of the Nurse Practitioner
Preparation, Placement and Evaluation Program of the Washington/Alaska Regional
Medical Program in the mid-70's. Following completion of her Doctorate, Louise
taught for three years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then served as
Executive Director of the Illinois Nurses Association until 1994.
Louise has always been active at all levels of WSNA and ANA. A continuous member
since 1963, she was President of the King County District Nurses Association from
1967 - 1971. She served on the WSNA Board of Directors from 1968-1970 and 1972-1974,
was elected First Vice-President from 1974-1976 and as WSNA President from 1976-1979.
Louise has always been a leader who could stand by her principles, give voice to
the minority view and skillfully manage being in the "hotseat."
During her presidency she weathered the 1976 strike and its aftermath; began joint
executive committee meetings between WSNA and the State Medical Association after
they threatened to sue the Board of Nursing over prescriptive authority; facilitated
more than 28 state-wide forums to debate the merits of the 1985 educational entry
into practice proposal and successfully presided over the passage of a $55 WSNA
dues increase! Her ability to lead others from conflict to collaboration was astounding!
Champion, Mentor, Teacher, Role Model and Advocate are all terms used by others
to describe Louise's leadership. In keeping with this, WSNA presented Louise
with the ANA Honorary Membership award in 1979 for her outstanding leadership and
contributions to WSNA.
Louise was a delegate to the ANA convention from1968 through 1984. Her ANA activities
include chairing and serving on numerous committees before being twice elected to
serve four years as Treasurer of ANA from 1980-1984. Judith Ryan, former ANA Executive
Director commented on Louise's contributions as ANA Treasurer, "Louise
helped craft the financial relationships between and among levels of the professional
organization; between ANA and the Academy and the American Nurses' Foundation;
between ANA and our pension and health benefits structures. She clearly understood
and upheld right relationships between the membership organization and its appropriately
arms-length Credentialing function and between the Credentialing functions and the
broader profession. She also helped to shape a new for-profit ANA subsidiary. Louise
always understood the economic interests of the profession – and upheld the right
to act in that economic interest both within and outside of the historic collective
bargaining framework. Louise's national contributions have been many and they
are lasting." Louise also served for six years as Trustee and Treasurer of
the American Nurses Foundation.
Throughout her career, Louise has been a community activist and agent for change
– whether it was the civil rights movement of the 60's, women's rights of
the 70's, educational reform in the 80's or health care reform in the 90's,
Louise has worked diligently with coalitions, educational institutions, governmental
agencies and others to raise social consciousness and improve the welfare of others.
Louise now lives in Vancouver Washington and works as Education Consultant to the
Oregon State Board of Nursing, a role she has had for the past six years.
Inducted 2002
