NAHN – Ildaura Murillo-Rohde

NAHN is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of nurses who are Latino. It was founded in 1975 by Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, who was a member of the American Nurses Association and was concerned that there were not enough Latina nurses to meet the demands of hospitals and patients. Born in Panama, Murillo-Rohde immigrated to the United States in 1945 and began her nursing career in San Antonio, Texas. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree at Columbia University and her master’s degree from New York University.

Despite her achievements, Ildaura Murillo-Rohde never revealed details about her marriage and family life. Although she was awarded many honors, her personal life and her place of employment were kept private. She died in Panama in 2010 at the age of 89. Her death was believed to be related to financial problems. However, she is remembered for her contribution to the field of nursing and influenced many Hispanic nurses.

Murillo-Rohde was a graduate of the Medical and Surgical Hospital School of Nursing in 1948. She also studied at Columbia University Teachers College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in psychiatric nursing instruction. She later became a founding member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. She was also named as an associate dean at the University of Washington and held a number of academic and research positions. She was also the Dean of Nursing at the State University of New York.

Murillo-Rohde was an active member of the American Nurses Association and was an active member of the Latino Nurses’ Caucus. She also led the effort to establish the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1975.