EUNICE COLE'S career of more than forty years in nursing is
filled with numerous honors and recognition. She's well-known for her calm,
steady and skillful leadership under pressure, both as a nurse administrator in
acute and long term care settings and as an association leader and political activist
in WSNA and ANA. Over the years, She has held numerous nursing roles in a variety
of settings.
Eunice received her Nursing Diploma from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Bellingham,
Washington and later received a BSN from the University of Washington. After graduation
she worked as a staff nurse and clinical instructor until 1965 when she became the
Director of Nursing Services at St Luke's General Hospital, a position she held
until 1976. An early nurse entrepreneur, Eunice opened her nurse-owned surgical
supply and home care center in Bellingham, which she ran for twelve years before
becoming a Director of Nursing in long term care.
Eunice was also active in her Bellingham community serving on the Whatcom County
Emergency Medical Services Council for five years, the Whatcom County Health Advisory
Board for ten years, as an advisor to the Western Washington University Nursing
program for ten years and advisor to the Bellingham Practical Nursing Program for
nearly 25 years.
Eunice held a number of District and WSNA positions before being elected as WSNA
First Vice-President from 1972-1974 and as WSNA President from 1974-1976 – a tumultuous
period in WSNA history during which the Taft Hartley amendments assuring collective
bargaining rights to nurses were implemented. As president of WSNA, Eunice faced
great pressure from nurse administrator colleagues and her own hospital administration.
However, even at the risk of her own job, Eunice calmly stood her ground and continued
to advocate for staff nurse involvement in decision-making and their right to bargain
for wages, hours and working conditions. She provided an exemplary role model for
other managers and directors of nursing, continuing her active role in WSNA and
refusing to be intimidated by this pressure. This won her great respect and admiration
of nurses in all roles. In 1976, WSNA awarded Eunice the ANA Honorary Recognition
award for her outstanding leadership and contributions to WSNA..
Eunice was elected to a four-year term on the ANA Board of Directors in 1978 and
served as Chairperson of the ANA-PAC. Eunice was elected President of the American
Nurses Association in 1982. Eunice's leadership contributions as ANA president
are perhaps best described by Dr. Judith Ryan who was the ANA Executive Director
during the four years Eunice was president.
Dr. Ryan writes, "I don't know if anyone but the ANA Exec will ever know
the scope of the work that Eunice did as President of ANA for those four years.
The framing of the ANA Federation, the introduction of the Reference Committee Process,
the development of the national Tri-Council, the orchestration of the National Commission
on Nursing Implementation Project, the retention of New York State as a member of
ANA, the enactment of Community Nursing Organizations, building of the foundation
for the National Institute of Nursing, the maturation of the ANA PAC and political
action network, creation of a superb model for the ANA Speaker role, reestablishing
the working relationships with National Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations,
and her solid international leadership." These were all accomplished in typical
Eunice style – calm, focused, steady and always with the right amount of humor.
Even while fulfilling the enormous demands of the ANA presidency, Eunice continued
to be involved in Washington State and WSNA and her contributions were frequently
recognized. In 1981, she was appointed to a two-year term on the Washington State
Board of Health. In 1982, the mayor of Bellingham and the Whatcom County Executive
proclaimed "Eunice Cole Day" in her honor. In 1983 she received Honorary
Recognition by the Washington State Legislature and later that year, she was proclaimed
Business Woman of the Year by the Whatcom Women in Business organization.
Now in semi-retirement, Eunice enjoys gardening and being a grandmother and continues
an active role in nursing association activities, serving as an honorary trustee
of the American Nurses Foundation, the ANA advisor and honorary member of the National
Student Nurses Association and honorary member of the American Association of Critical
Care Nurses.
Inducted 2002
