Luther Christman Professional Reformer Steven Merrill, RN, PhD Hiram College
Acknowledgements Luther and Dorothy Christman Helen Sherwin, MugarMemorial Library Archive, Boston University
Who was Luther Christman? Born 1915 in Summit Hill Pennsylvania, Died in Nashville Tennessee in 2011 Recognized as major leader in 20 th century nursing Held major positions in nursing and health care Hundreds of publications and presentations Advocate for radical reform in nursing Significant role in AAMN Frustrated with glass ceiling
Purpose of the Study Christmanmade a career as a reformer and in this study was found to be a change agent in his work settings and professional organizations. A number of questions were derived to guide this study. 1. What were the changes advocated in each setting? 2. What methods did he use to implement the proposed changes? 3. How much change actually occurred? 4. Did the fact that he was a male in a predominantly female profession have any influence on the types of change he advocated, the methods he used, the influence he was able to garner, or the persistence of the changes he implemented.
Study Methodology Historic Sources Luther ChristmanCollectionin the Special Collections of the MugarLibrary at Boston University. Archives of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Vanderbilt University, and Rush University. Writings and publications by and about Christman Friends, family, co-workers, professional associates Luther Christman himself.
Early Life Born in Summit Hill Pennsylvania, a coal mining town, about 5000 people when Luther was growing up
Family Life Abusive mother and meek father Mother member of Ku Klux Klan Mother beat him regularly Mother Methodist, Father Lutheran Supportive grandparents and other relatives Dorothy Black became the love of his life Lutheran Church Methodist Church
Luther s Response Sufficient support from relatives and friends to survive and grow in this environment Could have become meek and scared to avoid beating, but instead figured he would be punished whatever he did, so he did as he pleased
Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing for Men
World War II No Men Nurses in Military Luther Christmancampaigns for Men in Military Nursing without success
Early Career BS and MS from Temple University Taught at Camden Hospital School of Nursing Began organizing nursing role with emphasis on clinical practice
Yankton South Dakota Took position as Director of Nursing at State Psychiatric Hospital Large complex of about 90 buildings on 1700 acres
Yankton, South Dakota Psychiatric care in transition Development of chlorpromazine (Thorazine ) Christman participated in initial dosing studies Christman developed other innovations Nurse-physician teams & primary nursing Socialization between men and women patients Use of music as therapy Color to enliven the environment Calendars and other cues for orientation Elimination of window bars
Michigan Department of Mental Health Christmanrecruited to bring similar innovations to Michigan system Large organization with 9 hospitals and 18 mental health clinics
Doctoral Education Enrolled in Michigan State University doctoral program in Sociology and Anthropology Graduated in 1965 Doctoral Dissertation: The Selective Perceptions Resulting from Training for A Vertical Division of Labor and the effect on Organization Cohesion
Dissertation Focused on communication across different levels of health providers Challenged established system of layers of workers, each working with own level of education and practice Documented communication breakdown at all levels Result was to advocate for an all-professional staff
Christman sfour Laws of Human Behavior 1. Everyone wants the world to be in his or her own image 2. No one can use knowledge he or she does not have 3. In every instance, give the free choice between rationality and irrationality, everyone opts for irrationality as their first choice and are only rational when forced to be rational 4. Most people, under most circumstances, generally will do what is right, if they know what is right, and if the temptation to err is not too great
University of Michigan Recruited to University of Michigan with a dual appointment in School of Nursing (25%) and Institute For Social Research (75%) Research with Basil Georgopouloson the use of Clinical Nurse Specialists as clinical leaders of nursing units
University of Michigan First male students in nursing program
Vanderbilt University Christman recruited as Dean of Nursing First male Nursing Dean in the United States Also took Director of Nursing role
Vanderbilt University Introduced a variety of innovations Science-based curriculum with courses taught by a team of a nurse and a basic scientist Science faculty member would explain underlying theory Nursing faculty member would explain application to practice Decentralized faculty governance model Rural health initiative with teams of nursing and medical students
American Nurses Association Excluded men until 1930 Leroy Craig, Director of Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing for Men, was major force in the admission of men to the ANA
Christmanruns for President of ANA Active involvement in SNA since end of WWII President of Michigan Nurses Association for two terms in early 1960s Nominated as 3 rd VP of ANA in 1966 Ran for president of ANA in 1968 Defeated 2:1
Gregory Johnson Recalls Gregory Johnson AAMN Member, 1994 recipient of AAMN Lee Cohen award Luther should not be elected because: He was behind 1965 ANA position on Education Appointment at Vanderbilt is takeover of nursing services by nursing schools He was a homosexual A man should never be president of ANA Other points of view
Rush University Dates from mid-19 th century, but ceased operations in 1946 Charter kept in force by board of directors Desire to re-open as a health-professions university in late 1960s and early 1970s College of Medicine re-opened in 1971 Christmanconsulted regarding College of Nursing, then hired as Dean in 1972
Rush University Start a new nation-leading program from scratch 1. Secure full funding for program 2. Recruit faculty and students 3. Secure approval of Illinois Board of Nursing 4. Secure preliminary Accreditation from NLN 5. Secure accreditation from North Central Association 6. Make transfer arrangements 7. Admit students All completed in one year!!!
Innovations at Rush University Faculty with dual practice and teaching role Teach in their area of specialization Implementation of clinical doctorate Self-governance model for staff University-based clinics and home health services
Luther Christmanand AAMN Founded in 1971 by Steve Miller, a Michigan RN as the Men in Nursing in Michigan Christmanbecame involved in 1974, organization restructured as the National Male Nurses Association, but faltered Christmanworked to re-vitalize organization in 1980, Ed Halloran elected president Became American Assembly for Men in Nursing in 1981 ChristmanChair of the Board in 1981 Continued involvement in organization until his death in 2011
Back to our original questions 1. What were the changes advocated in each setting? 2. What methods did he use to implement the proposed changes? 3. How much change actually occurred? 4. Did the fact that he was a male in a predominantly female profession have any influence on the types of change he advocated, the methods he used, the influence he was able to garner, or the persistence of the changes he implemented.
What was Luther s Style Persuasion but use of outrageous ideas The competence of a nurse is determined by the position of the sun
Clearly brilliant Why Luther? Willing to think independently and innovate NOT put off by criticism Persistent Lucky enough and smart enough to usually be right
A Luther ChristmanBiography
Questions?