Iowa League for Nursing records

Collection

Identifier: IWA0580

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The records of the Iowa League for Nursing (ILN) measure 5.5 linear feet and date from 1952 to 2002. The records are arranged in six series: Administrative Records, Education and Outreach, Eastern Iowa League for Nursing, National League for Nursing, Related Organizations, and Artifacts. Most of the collection relates to annual meetings, board meetings and annual workshops.

The Administrative Records series (1952-2002) contains a history of what led to the founding of the ILN; annual meetings packets that include minutes from the meetings and all the attachments and memos related to the meetings; board meeting packets which contain the minutes of the board meetings, treasurer's reports, and correspondence related to ILN business; drafts of the policy and procedure manual; and a scrapbook (removed from a three ringer binder) which contains newspaper clippings from the 1950s and 1960s chronicling major events of the ILN.

The Education and Outreach series (1963-2000) consists mainly of documents related to the workshops the ILN sponsored for continuing education credit. The workshop packets contain background information on the presenter, registration materials, surveys on participant satisfaction, handouts and bibliographies for further reading. The Eastern Iowa League for Nursing series (1955-1968) consists of administrative materials similar to those in the Iowa League for Nursing series except they relate to eastern Iowa. The National League for Nursing series (1959-1992) contains materials provided by the national organization including goals and guidelines for state affiliate leagues, annual meeting minutes and reports. The series also includes a slide show with accompanying script and audiocassette titled, This is the National League for Nursing. Two group photographs circa 1969 complete the series.

The Related Organizations series (1960-1991) contains material from groups interested in health care in the Midwest. Many contain administrative records but the series also includes a report on nurse-doctor patient care committees in Iowa hospitals, and reports on staff nurse position responsibilities in Iowa general hospitals.

The Artifacts consist of two wooden gavels, each bearing a silver plaque. The ILN gavel reads: "presented in 1955 to Iowa League for Nursing by State Nurses' Association." The EILN gavel reads: "Eastern Iowa League for Nursing 1955." Two buttons that advertise the National League for Nursing complete the series.

Dates

Creation: 1952-2002

Creator

Iowa League for Nursing (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The records are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

The Iowa League for Nursing (ILN) is a constituent league of the National League for Nursing, Inc. (NLN). The NLN was formed in 1952 through the merger of seven established national nursing groups, the oldest of which, the National League of Nursing Education, had been in operation since 1893. Since its inception the NLN has had one goal: "to assist in meeting the health care needs of the people." Its membership includes registered and licensed practical nurses, educators, physicians, therapists, and hospital administrators. The national league, as well as its constituent leagues, has pursued its primary objective by offering non-degree continuing education programs and workshops, advocating standardized education and accreditation for nursing schools, and increasing community support and recognition for nursing as a profession. The Iowa League for Nursing (ILN) maintains parallel goals and objectives to its parent organization.

The ILN's efforts have included active participation in community planning and action for health care, advocating changes such as home health care. The organization made efforts to assure the continuing supply of nurses by providing them with the educational opportunities to reach their maximum career potential, ability to move into management and leadership positions, and promoting a greater public appreciation of nursing as a profession. The ILN maintains a cooperative relationship with the Iowa Association of Nursing Students, supports a scholarship program, and grants complimentary memberships to nursing students. The League also participates in a regional network of leagues and is active in providing high-quality, low-cost programs and workshops throughout the state. These address a wide range of topics from spinal cord injuries and adolescent pregnancy to ethical issues in nursing, the effect of health care legislation in Iowa, and collective bargaining.

The Iowa League for Nursing (ILN) changed its name to the Iowa Citizens' League for Nursing (ICLN) in 1969 in order to emphasize "that this is a community organization." The name change was approved at the May 27, 1969 board meeting and adopted at the December 2, 1969 annual meeting and the organization started using its new name in January of 1970. The ICLN changed its name back to Iowa League for Nursing in 1979 "as a way to better represent the group." In 1978 and 1979 records show that the group began to use the old name (Iowa League for Nursing) on a regular basis. The name was officially changed at the September 21, 1979 annual meeting when the members voted to change the by-laws and return to the name Iowa League for Nursing.

Extent

5.50 Linear Feet

1 Cassettes (One audiocassette [AC 1158])

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Iowa League for Nursing's efforts have included active participation in community planning and action for health care, advocating changes such as home health care. The organization made efforts to assure the continuing supply of nurses by providing them with the educational opportunities to reach their maximum career potential, ability to move into management and leadership positions, and promoting a greater public appreciation of nursing as a profession.