DiversityNursing Blog

Every year during Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight the powerful contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Nurses, those who broke barriers, built institutions, and continue to lead change in health care. For Nurses today, their stories are not just inspiring; they are lessons in advocacy, perseverance, and cultural humility. Below are profiles of both past and present Hispanic/Latinx Nurse leaders whose work has shaped health care in meaningful ways.

Historical Trailblazers

Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN, FAAN
Born in Panama in 1920, Murillo-Rohde moved to the U.S. and became deeply aware of the lack of Hispanic representation among Nurses in communities where it was most needed. She earned advanced degrees, including her Ph.D. from NYU, and was the first Hispanic Dean of Nursing at New York University. Her most enduring legacy is founding the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) in 1975 — to support Hispanic Nurses and improve culturally competent care. AAMC

Hector Hugo Gonzalez, PhD, VR-RN
Gonzalez was the first Mexican-American Registered Nurse in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. (1974). He devoted much of his career to creating access, especially for Hispanic and male Nursing students. As chair of the Department of Nursing Education at San Antonio College, he helped develop flexible curricula (evening classes) to allow non-traditional students to succeed. TNAA

Henrieta Villaescusa, MPH, RN
A pioneer in public health, Villaescusa held many “firsts”: she was the first Hispanic Nurse appointed to an administrative role in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; first Mexican-American Chief Nurse consultant in the Office of Maternal & Child Health. Throughout her career, she was a voice for Latino health on both local and national levels. AJC

Nelly Garzón Alarcón
From Colombia, Garzón Alarcón was the first Latin American Nurse to become president of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in 1985. She made major contributions to Nursing education, ethics, and regulation. Her leadership was not just national but global. Wikipedia

Carmen Lozano Dumler, RN
One of the first Puerto Rican women to become a U.S. Army officer, Dumler served during WWII. Her service as a Nurse and interpreter helped bridge language and culture for many Spanish-speaking patients in the Army Nurse Corps. Wikipedia

Modern Leaders Continuing the Legacy

Dr. Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, MSN, RN, FAAN
Previous President of NAHN, Dr. Nava has been recognized among Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders (2023) for her work with veteran and Latino health, policy, and leadership. She is actively working to close health disparities using performance measurement, policy, and community engagement. nahnnet.org

Hilda Ortiz-Morales, Ph.D., NP, AAHIVS
A Nurse Practitioner, Professor, and HIV/HCV program coordinator, Ortiz-Morales works explicitly with populations disproportionately affected by health inequities, including Hispanic and Black patients. Her service, teaching, and mentorship demonstrate how modern Nursing leadership mixes clinical practice, research, and advocacy. AJC

Why These Stories Matter for Nurses Today

• Representation has ripple effects: Seeing Nurses who share one’s culture, language, or background can enhance trust, improve communication, and help institutions better serve communities.

• Advocacy is as much part of the job as clinical care: Many of the figures above didn’t stop at caring for patients, they pushed systems to change, created organizations (like NAHN), influenced policy, and opened doors for those who came after.

• Cultural competence isn’t optional: Historical leaders understood that language, cultural understanding, and context matter in Nursing. Today’s Nurses continue to build on that work, integrating it into education, research, and everyday patient care.

• Continuous learning and mentorship: Many of the historical figures came from modest beginnings, yet they pursued advanced education and mentored others. Modern leaders still model those traits. For Nurses in training or early career phases, these are powerful role models.

How to Honor & Learn from These Leaders

• Feature them in your workplace during Hispanic Heritage Month: Posters, newsletters, short staff presentations.

• Incorporate their work into training and education: Example case studies, guest speakers.

• Mentorship programs: Connect newer Nurses (especially Hispanic/Latinx) with senior leaders or peers who understand their journey.

• Advocate for inclusive policies: Language access, equitable hiring, flexible training options.

Hispanic and Latinx Nurses have shaped, and continue to shape, the nursing profession by breaking barriers, advocating for underrepresented communities, and pushing for health equity. Honoring them isn’t just about looking back, it’s about continuing the work they started. As Nurses today, we can carry forward their legacy through inclusive practice, leadership, and advocacy.

Each year, from September 15th through October 15th, Americans honor and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration where we recognize the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Hispanic or Latino Heritage. The celebration begins on September 15th because it marks the anniversary of when Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua gained independence.

When Nursing professionals represent the patient populations they care for, healthcare improves for both the patient and the healthcare provider. Hispanic Nurses, like Nurses from any other cultural background, play a vital role in Nursing, bringing varied perspectives and beliefs into view.

While Latinos represent 18% of the US population, less than 7% of the Nursing workforce is of Latino descent https://www.nahnnet.org/about-nahn. Here are some of the many benefits Hispanic representation adds to the Nursing profession.

Diversity and Cultural Competence

As patients come from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, representation in Nursing is crucial for better patient outcomes and satisfaction. Thankfully, the healthcare landscape is becoming increasingly more diverse, with more and more Nurses of Hispanic and Latino heritage joining the field.

Hispanic Nurses bring cultural competency and an understanding to the profession that can significantly differ from other cultural backgrounds. Representation of Hispanic individuals in the nursing progression can bridge communication gaps and foster trust between patients and healthcare providers.

Language Skills

Many Hispanic Nurses are bilingual or multilingual, which is crucial to providing effective care to patients with limited proficiency in English. Properly communicating with patients in their native language improves comprehension of medical instructions and guidelines, reduces misunderstandings, and ensures accurate exchange of information. Explaining medical information in language and terms your patients understand increases medical compliance.

Representation

Representation matters in all professions, especially in healthcare. When patients see healthcare professionals who share their background, it creates comfort and understanding within the Patient-Nurse relationship. This encourages patients to better engage in their care and treatment plans. When patients feel connected with their healthcare provider, healthcare outcomes are often improved.  

Community Outreach

Nurses from different ethnic backgrounds can significantly improve community outreach by better connecting to different patient populations. Hispanic Nurses can help educate the people of their communities about preventative care, health screenings, vaccinations, and other important health topics in language and terminology that they can better understand. Community outreach within diverse patient populations promotes health awareness and encourages people to seek medical attention promptly.

Reduce Health Disparities

Addressing health disparities in the Hispanic population can be challenging. Unfortunately, many Hispanic people face health disparities due to socioeconomic status, limited access to healthcare, and cultural barriers. Hispanic Nurses have a unique understanding of these challenges, can make efforts to reduce these disparities, and advocate for equitable healthcare access and resources. 

Patient Advocacy

Nurses of Hispanic heritage can advocate for their patients, particularly those facing discrimination or systemic barriers. They can help ensure that patient concerns are heard, help promote informed decision-making, and work towards providing a patient-centered approach.

Cultural Sensitivity

Every patient comes from a different background or culture, and everyone has unique healthcare beliefs and practices. Hispanic Nurses can understand these nuances and help provide care to patients that respects and accommodates their cultural preferences while also adhering to evidence-based medical practices.  

Workforce Enhancement

Hispanic representation in the Nursing profession encourages diversity and helps enrich the profession with various perspectives and experiences. Healthcare diversity can lead to innovative solutions and approaches to healthcare challenges and improve patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Hispanic Nurses can significantly contribute to the healthcare system by bringing diversity, cultural understanding, language skills, representation, and a deeper connection to the communities they serve. Hispanic representation in Nursing enhances the overall quality of care and helps address healthcare disparities while fostering a more inclusive and patient-centered healthcare environment.