Lillian Wald: More Than Just a Nurse

Lillian Wald

More than Just a Nurse

Cynthia Heath

Leadership NUR1823

Professor Boyd

June 16, 2011

Lillian Wald: More than Just a Nurse

Biography

"As a social worker, nurse, public health advocate, and settlement leader, Lillian D. Wald committed her life to helping others" ("Lillian D. Wald Biography," n.d.). Lillian Wald was born in Cincinnati, OH on March 10, 1867. It wasn't until her sister became ill that Lillian took an interest in nursing. She then went on to school at New York Hospital Training School for Nurses. After graduation, Wald entered the Women's Medical College where she hoped to become a MD. However, during her time in school, she worked with the poor on New York's lower east side and felt that being there was her true calling. She quit medical school and moved closer to the poor to help them (Thomson Corporation, 2006). With the help of her friend, Mary Brewster, Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement which would become "the model for similar settlements in the United States, Canada, and Europe" (Falk, 2005).

In the early 1900's, poor people only went to the emergency room during extreme situations and could not afford to go to regular doctor visits, so they stayed home when they got sick. The Henry Street Settlement not only helped to bring health care services to the poor, but it also helped to provide community services such as help with homework for the children, assistance with housing, and even recreational activities ("Lillian Wald," 2010). Lillian Wald raised funds to support the Henry Street Settlement by fundraising and persuading others to donate to the cause.

Wald actively sought to integrate all of the Henry Street classes. To Wald, she only saw people that needed help, not the color of their skin. She also participated in protests against the KK and its beliefs in white power. Due to her extreme opposition to war and violence, Wald helped lead a rally against World War I in 1914. After the war, she helped to create the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Falk, 2005).

In 1902, Wald influenced the board of Education to employ school nurses for the first time ever (AAHN, n.d.). Almost directly after that she convinced President "Teddy" Roosevelt to start the Federal Children's Bureau which acted to safeguard children against child labor (Thomson Corporation, 2006). Wald dedicated her life to helping and serving others. She remained active in all her endeavors until 1937 when she stepped down as President of the Henry Street Settlement and moved to Connecticut. Lillian Wald died on September 1, 1940 (AAHN, n.d.).

Leadership Style

According to Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, "some people are natural leaders, and others are not.... Warren Bennis identified four common traits shared by all these leaders."

1. Management of attention. These leaders were able to communicate a sense of goal or direction to attract followers.

2. Management of meaning. These leaders created and communicated meaning with clarity and with purpose.

3. Management of trust. These leaders demonstrated reliability and consistency.

4. Management of self. These leaders were able to know self and work within their strengths and weaknesses (Whitehead, D. K., Weiss, S. A., & Tappen, R. M., 2010)

Lillian Wald was born a leader. She held fast to her beliefs and pursued them at all costs. Wald was able to persuade and convince people to see her side of things and act on that. "Wald was able to raise large sums [of money] in part because she was able to appeal to potential contributors by dealing with individual cases and was able to convey to others a willingness to serve" (Falk, 2005). Her annual budget to run Henry Street was $600,000 a year in 1916.

During her time in medical school, Wald saw people who