Saga – Luther Christman – Part 2

This episode of the NLN Nursing EDge Unscripted Saga track is part two of two celebrating the life of Luther Christman. The podcast continues to explore Dr. Christman's significant contributions to nursing, focusing on his advocacy for increasing diversity in the profession and raising educational standards. Dr. Christman promoted the idea that nursing faculty should have joint responsibilities in both academia and clinical practice, a concept he developed as dean of Rush University College of Nursing. He also championed the clinical nurse specialist role to enhance bedside care and primary nursing. Despite being viewed as an educational maverick, Dr. Christman remained a steadfast advocate for advancing the profession through diversity, knowledge, and adaptation to new technologies.

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Transcript

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[Music] Welcome to Nursing EDge Unscripted Saga where we use stories to connect the past  to the present and then our future as we reimagine our teaching and learning.  As we celebrate the NLN Year of the Nurse Educator we pay tribute to extraordinary nurses who've made  significant contributions to nursing education. We dive into the stories of nurse educators  who recognized a need, challenged traditional customs, and influenced transformative change.  Welcome to part two of our discussion concerning Dr. Luther Christman, one of the most significant  nurse reformers of the 20th century. In part one, we discussed Dr. Christman's early life and nascent  nursing career highlighting his beginnings into the fields of academia and advocacy as  well as his experience of being a male nurse in a predominantly female-dominated profession.  Let's continue to explore Dr. Christman's life in academia where he challenged many  long-held beliefs in order to propel and advance the nursing profession forward. Throughout his nursing career, Dr. Christman was a tireless champion for nursing reform within  the areas of academia and clinical practice. He believed that these reforms not only benefited  nurses but also the patients they served. While he advocated for many causes during his nursing  career, there were two issues that truly captured Dr. Christman's attention and where he subsequently  

focused much of his efforts. These were: 2:23

increasing the diversity of nurses by attracting more  men and minorities into the profession and raising the standards for nursing education.  As a male nurse, Dr. Christman was in the minority of his chosen profession, an experience that actually  provided a unique perspective on how the lack of diversity amongst nurses impacted society.  

In his own words: 4:02

Dr. Christman also strongly believed in elevating the educational level of the nursing profession.  In fact, he advocated for a bachelor's degree requirement for all nurses, lamented the weak  clinical content in many nursing PhD programs, and called for the further establishment of doctor  of nursing practice or DNP programs. He also promoted the idea that nurse leaders should  maintain clinical practice. His unification model, which he developed while serving as the dean of  The Rush University College of Nursing, promotes the idea that nursing faculty or nursing leaders  should possess joint responsibilities in both academia and clinical practice.  

As Dr Chrisman wrote in 1998: 5:43

Dr. Christman attempted to address what he believed was the lack of knowledge at the bedside or in  primary care nursing through the promotion of the clinical nurse specialist role. Indeed, through his  practice, research, and publications, he sought to relay the value of the clinical nurse specialist  especially as it relates to patient care.  A true reformer, Dr. Christman felt that nursing  could not stay mired in its past but instead must adapt to new technologies and a changing society.  His ideas, which at times were controversial, caused some to view him as an educational maverick.  Yet, Dr. Christman remained steadfast in his beliefs, a determined advocate for the advancement of the  profession increasing diversity and knowledge as well as achieving a future for nursing that  

he felt was possible. As he wrote: 7:06

And so the Saga continues and may our Saga continue as we bring to a close this episode  of Nursing EDge Unscripted Saga. Thank you for joining us