Anne Mae Ericksen has been described as one the finest examples of humility, professionalism,
compassion, humanitarianism, and volunteerism. She has inspired those around her
to continue her legacy of excellence in nursing and life.
A graduate of Spokane’s Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in 1943, Anna Mae spent
several years working in the Army Nurse Corp before returning to Spokane in 1947.
Since then she has become well known to all the Deaconess employees and in the Spokane
community for her employment of over 40 years at Deaconess Hospital, now called
Deaconess Medical Center. She has been active in the Inland Empire Nurses Association
throughout her career, as well as participating in WSNA on the Membership Committee
and Board of Directors.
She began as a staff nurse in the Emergency Room at Deaconess Hospital and was head
nurse from 1948 to 1957. From 1955 to 1957, she worked in collaboration with local
physicians to establish the Spokane Poison Center at Deaconess which became part
of the Emergency Department responsibilities and later became its own separate are
with dedicated staff next to the Emergency Department.
Under Anna Mae’s leadership, the Mr. Yuk program started in 1975 in the greater
Spokane area. The center provided education to thousands of pre-school children
through adults about poison prevention including measure to poison proof the home.
Countless third, fourth and fifth grade students participated in the annual Mr.
Yuk poster contest. Presentations were given to provide information about accidental
poisonings. This became a national program. In the late 1970’s, the Spokane Rotary
Club honored Anna Mae by presenting her with a personalized license plate reading
“Mrs. Yuk”.
From 1957 to 1970 Anna Mae was the Supervisor of the Emergency, Outpatient Departments
and Poison Information Center and in 1970 she became the Assistant Director of these
departments and the Admitting Department was added to her responsibilities. Anna
Mae was always passionate about finding and sharing ideas at the community level
as well as state level for on-going improvement in nursing care.
In 1985 Anna Mae organized the first Rural Nurse conference and in 1989 founded
the Rural Nurse Organization that provided education, networking and leadership
experiences for nurses in rural areas. She was also involved in the Rural Outreach
program that provided education to physicians, registered nurses and other health
providers in rural communities. Through these programs. she has positively impacted
rural health needs in rural communities of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon,
northern Idaho and even western Montana.
Anna Mae has also been a leader in Emergency Medical Care, helping to organize the
Emergency Department Nurses Association in the late 60s and serving as a representative
for the Pacific Northwest in the National organization. She was also the founder
of the Inland Empire EDNA. During the 1970s, she held several national offices for
EDNA including serving as president from 1975 to 1976. In 9175, she was invited
to the White House by President Gerald Ford as one of 26 people to speak regarding
Emergency Medical Services issues. In 1999, Anna Mae was the recipient of the Hall
of Fame Award from the National Emergency Nurses Association.
Anna Mae served as a committee member from 1975 to 1993 on the East Regional Medical
Services and Trauma Council. She has also worked with outlying Fire Departments
to develop training for EMTs and paramedics and was appointed to the Governor’s
Emergency Medical Service Committee. While Supervisor of the Emergency Department,
she convinced the School of Nursing to let her teach a one-week section on emergency
care. That class was later extended to three weeks as part of the senior student
nurse education.
At the time of her retirement in 1987, she was the Director of the Regional Outreach
Program, Director of the Spokane Poison Information Center and served as the Liaison
with the Physicians. Even after retiring, she continued to be involved in all three
of these roles.
Anna Mae is the recipient of the Clara Barton Honor Award from the Inland Northwest
Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Ann Magnuson Award from the American Red
Cross, the highest honor for volunteer nursing. In addition to receiving numerous
awards and honors, both the Washington Emergency Nurses Association and Rural Nurses
Organization now present an annual Anna Mae Ericksen award to recognize excellence
in emergency nursing and rural nursing, respectively. Of course, Anna Mae was the
first recipient of both awards.
