Call Number:

MC 152

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing

Extent:

1.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Dorothy McMullan Pisani papers, Barbara Bates Center for The Study of The History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1936-2004 (inclusive)

Creator:

Pisani, Dorothy McMullan

Form:

Personal papers

Abstract:

Dorothy McMullan Pisani was a public health nurse. During her long career, she worked for a variety of institutions inclusing the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service in New York City, the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, Indiana State University School of Nursing, and the NLN. This collection contains articles, speeches, and presentations, primarily relating to education and public health.

Dorothy McMullan Pisani (1911-2003) was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey. She graduated with a Diploma from the Cornell-New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1935. From 1936 to 1939 she was a Public Health Nurse with the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service in New York City. During the next two years she did private duty nursing in New York City as well as being an instructor at Cornell-New York Hospital School of Nursing. She entered the Army Nurse Corps in 1942 and served 4 years in Europe. From 1947 to 1950 she returned to Cornell-New York Hospital School of Nursing as an instructor and supervisor. In 1953 she became a Department Head and administrative assistant in nursing service for methods improvement while continuing as an instructor. In 1955 she was appointed the Director of School of Nursing at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. She served as Dean and Professor at Indiana State University School of Nursing in Terre Haute from 1962-1971. In 1977 she left Indiana for New York City where she became Director of Programs for Nursing. This included four nursing education departments, two nursing service departments and the Nursing Advisory Service. She retired from the NLN in the late 1970s but continued as a consultant until the early 1980s. She was a member, board member or held office on many professional committees and organizations ranging from president of the Indiana League for Nursing from 1966-1971 to the Vigo County Cancer Society, Goodwill Industries Citizens against Government Waste and the Advisory Committee on Women’s Services US Defense Department. She was the author of a number of articles for the NLN and other publications and co-authored, “Law of Hospital and Nurse” with Hayt and Goeschel. Awards included New York University Founders Day Certificate in recognition of Outstanding Scholarship in 1963, Army Nurse Corps “Special Award” for outstanding support of the Army Nurse Corps in 1973, Indiana League for Nursing distinguished and devoted service as President from 1966-1971, “McMullan Auditorium” at Indiana State University was named in her honor as first Dean of the School of Nursing 1962-1971, Indiana State University President’s Award for Distinguee Public Service and Outstanding Achievement September 1988 and others.

This collection constitutes documents reflecting Dorothy McMullan’s interest in developing professional educational opportunities for nursing and her dedication for working through professional organizations to achieve these objectives. This includes articles, speeches and presentations. The large part of her professional life in was education and public health in the community context. Her eventual relationship with the National League for Nurses (NLN) was the culmination of her interests. There are no personal letters and a few letters or drafts pertaining to professional activities.

This collection contains topics used to appropriately communicate using different media. Portions of the materials are in draft or note form while others are completed form only. The final comment included in Who’s Who in America seems to summarize her method for goals and achievements as well as her life style, “The important ingredients to success include self reliance, identifying goals and how to reach them through perseverance, willingness to work hard and to enjoy every step of the way.”